The Dodgers have launched catcher Austin Barnes, in response to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He’ll be free to signal a contract with any membership as soon as he clears launch waivers, if he hasn’t already executed so.
This was the more than likely final result when Barnes was designated for task final week because the Dodgers selected to advertise Dalton Speeding to the majors. Barnes is making a $3.5MM wage this yr. It was unlikely that one other membership would declare him off waivers and take that on as he’s hitting .214/.233/.286 this season. He has greater than sufficient service time to reject an outright task in favor of electing free company. The Dodgers are skipping that formality and sending Barnes to the open market extra straight.
As a free agent, he ought to garner extra curiosity. The Dodgers stay on the hook for what’s left of his wage. Some other membership might signal him and would solely owe him the prorated model of the key league minimal wage for any time spent on the roster. That quantity could be subtracted from what the Dodgers pay.
Barnes has by no means been a celebrity however has been capable of carve out a profession of greater than a decade as a stable large leaguer. The Dodgers despatched him to the plate 1,757 instances from 2015 to the current season. He hit 35 house runs in that point whereas drawing walks at a stable 11.2% clip and solely putting out at a 22.3% tempo. His .223/.322/.338 slash line interprets to a wRC+ of 85. That signifies he has been 15% under league common on the plate general. Nonetheless, catchers normally are available in about 10% under the league-wide par, so Barnes’ manufacturing has been fairly first rate for a backup at that place.
Defensively, the marks have been robust. He has been credited with 33 Defensive Runs Saved in his profession general. Retailers like Baseball Prospectus and Statcast have graded him as a powerful framer and blocker behind the plate. He additionally appeared to have a powerful popularity within the clubhouse for his game-planning and work with pitchers usually, notably Clayton Kershaw.
The Dodgers have clearly been keen on Barnes. He was set to succeed in free company after the 2022 season however they signed him to an extension that August. That deal paid him $7MM over 2023 and 2024 with a $3.5MM membership possibility for 2025. They triggered that possibility again in November.
However as talked about, his manufacturing tailed off this yr as Speeding’s ascent might not be ignored, which led to Barnes getting got rid of the roster. Another membership in want of catching depth is bound to be intrigued by Barnes, given his general monitor report and low acquisition value. It’s additionally attainable that he and the Dodgers determine to reunite on a minor league deal, although he’ll have an opportunity to scour the marketplace for different choices.
If he will get a significant league deal elsewhere, he’ll swimsuit up for a crew aside from the Dodgers for the primary time. He was drafted by the Marlins however was traded to the Dodgers as a minor leaguer in December of 2014 and has been within the Dodger group till this week.
Photograph courtesy of Matt Marton, Imagn Pictures
