The Los Angeles Dodgers are exercising their 2025 club option on catcher Austin Barnes, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. In his tenth season as a Los Angeles Dodger, Barnes posted a .264/.331/.307 slash line with one home run, 11 RBI, and three stolen bases in 54 games, serving as the clear backup to Will Smith. Fantasy managers should expect the 34-year-old to return to a similar role in the 2025 campaign. Barnes should not be on your fantasy radar heading into the offseason due to his sparse playing time and limited offensive output throughout his MLB career.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (toe) was activated off the 10-day injured list on Thursday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers optioned backstop Hunter Feduccia to Triple-A Oklahoma. Feduccia made only two starts over the past two weeks and went 2-for-10. Barnes was sidelined since September 15 with a toe fracture. Before the injury, the veteran catcher held a .261/.327/.306 line with three doubles, one home run, and 11 RBI. Fantasy managers should expect Barnes to remain as the backup catcher over the final weekend of the regular season and during the postseason, while Will Smith sees the vast majority of starts behind the plate.
Austin Barnes Likely Heading To Injured List With Toe Injury
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (toe) exited Sunday's game in the fifth inning after taking a foul ball off his right big toe. Barnes fractured the same toe just last month, so this is a very unfortunate incident. Manager Dave Roberts said he expects Barnes to hit the IL, and that minor league catcher Hunter Feduccia is on his way to the big league club. While it isn't a big deal for fantasy managers, it could mean additional playing time for Will Smith as the Dodgers look to get into bye position in the NL playoff race.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the plan is to activate backup catcher Austin Barnes (toe) on Thursday, the first day he's eligible to come off the 10-day injured list. Barnes was placed on the IL with a fractured left toe last Monday, but he took simulated at-bats against minor-league pitching at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday and is ready to go. When the 34-year-old veteran backstop rejoins the big-league roster, Hunter Feduccia will most likely be sent back to the minors. Barnes has played in only 44 games for the Dodgers this year as Will Smith's backup and has provided next to nothing offensively, slashing .241/.318/.284 with a .602 OPS, one home run, two doubles, eight RBI and eight runs scored in 131 trips to the plate.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to place backup catcher Austin Barnes (toe) on the 10-day injured list on Monday after he took a hard foul ball off his left toe in the third inning of Sunday's win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, according to a source. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers are recalling catching prospect Hunter Feduccia back up to the big leagues for catching depth behind Will Smith. Barnes has been useful for his defense as a backup but is hitting only .241 with one homer and eight RBI in 44 games played in 2024. Feduccia appeared in one game for the Blue earlier this year against the division-rival San Diego Padres and had only one at-bat. The left-handed hitter has hit .282 with six home runs and 46 RBI in his time at Triple-A Oklahoma City. It's unclear if Barnes suffered a fractured toe, but if so, he certainly won't return in August.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (back) is returning to Cactus League action on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox. Barnes will do the catching and hit eighth in the batting order. A back injury caused the Dodgers to scratch Barnes from the spring lineup on Tuesday, but it obviously wasn't a serious issue and he's back in there a day later. The 34-year-old veteran backstop will enter the 2024 regular season as the primary backup to All-Star Will Smith this year, leaving him almost no fantasy appeal. He hasn't played in 100 games in a season since 2018 and hit a weak .180/.256/.242 with two home runs, 11 RBI and 15 runs scored in 59 games played for the Blue in 2023. Barnes is a career .219 hitter in nine big-league seasons with only 34 homers and 149 RBI in 545 games played.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (head) was removed from Tuesday's game early against the Miami Marlins after taking a backswing to the side of his mask behind the plate, but he said he was OK and has a bruise on his left temple. Will Smith, who had been serving as the designated hitter, replaced Barnes behind the plate. Before leaving the game, Barnes went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout to drop his season average to .168 with a .453 OPS. He was put through the concussion protocol and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. The 33-year-old backstop isn't completely out of the woods just yet and could still land on the concussion injured list. Barnes is completely off the fantasy radar.
Los Angeles Dodgers backup catcher Austin Barnes went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's defeat of the Atlanta Braves. Barnes drew the start with Will Smith getting a routine day off and delivered. Barnes hasn't done much with the bat this year, but has hit six homers. He has also driven in 20 runs with a .222 batting average. With Smith entrenched as the Dodgers starting catcher, Barnes can remain on the waiver wire in all formats.
Los Angeles Dodgers backup catcher Austin Barnes went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's victory versus the San Diego Padres. Starting catcher Will Smith homered in the previous two games and it must've rubbed off on his teammate. Barnes has been a serviceable backup for the Dodgers, but can remain on the waiver wire with him only receiving one or two starts a week. He is now hitting .218 with five home runs and 19 RBI.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit home run in Tuesday's loss versus the San Diego Padres. Barnes trimmed the lead to one run after crushing his home run off of Padres closer Mark Melancon, but it wouldn't be enough for the Dodgers to get the victory. Barnes is now hitting .235 with three home runs and 15 RBI. With catcher Will Smith entrenched as the starter, Barnes only has value in favorable matchups as a DFS option.
Austin Barnes
• C
•
Dodgers
