Free-agent reliever Matt Barnes' market is heating up, as the Washington Nationals are one club that is linked to him. The right-hander underwent offseason surgery on his hip but threw for interested clubs in late January and appears ready to join a big-league spring training camp soon. It was a tough 2023 season for the 33-year-old who dealt with both injuries and inconsistency as he posted a 5.48 ERA across 24 outings. However, he also posted a 4.15 FIP and 4.35 SIERA, suggesting he was better than his surface ERA might suggest. Once a staple in the Red Sox bullpen, Barnes owns a career 4.13 ERA across 453 appearances while boasting an impressive 29.4% K%, although that figure has hovered around just 20% in each of the last two seasons.
Veteran relief pitcher Matt Barnes threw for a group of MLB scouts last week, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. A hip injury cost Barnes the second half of his 2023 season, holding him to just 24 appearances with the Miami Marlins. He maintained a 4.15 FIP, 8.44 K/9, and 4.22 BB/9 while inducing a 49.3 GB%. Prior to last season, Barnes had been a staple of the Red Sox' bullpen. He recorded 24 saves back in 2021. The 33-year-old righty will presumably have to settle for a minor league deal but could compete for a roster spot during Spring Training.
Miami Marlins right-hander Matt Barnes (hip) was moved to the 60-day injured list on Friday to make room for new reliever David Robertson, who the team acquired in a trade with the New York Mets. Barnes had left hip femoral acetabular impingement surgery on Tuesday and remains at home in Connecticut. He will do at-home rest and therapy for two to three weeks, and the recovery timeline before he can resume baseball activities is three months. Barnes' 2023 season is essentially over unless the Fish make a deep postseason run. The 33-year-old initially slipped on the mound in the middle of may against the San Francisco Giants when he suffered his hip impingement. He had a 5.48 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 20 K's in 21 1/3 innings at the time of his injury.
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Matt Barnes (hip) played catch on Monday in Miami and will be re-evaluated. He slipped on the mound in the middle of May in San Francisco, which led to his left-hip impingement. Barnes played through the injury, but it bothered him off and on for the next 10 days before he and the training staff decided he needed to take some time off to heal. The 33-year-old is slowly recovering, but he'll most likely need at least a couple minor-league rehab appearances before the Marlins decide to reinstate him from the injured list. Barnes currently has a 5.48 ERA (4.17 FIP), 1.64 WHIP, 10 walks and 20 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings over 24 outings (one start) in his first year with the Fish in 2023.
The Boston Red Sox and Miami Marlins have reportedly made a deal, per a tweet from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal on Monday morning. According to Rosenthal's tweet, Boston is trading reliever Matt Barnes to Miami for fellow relief pitcher Richard Bleier. Barnes pitched to a 4.31 ERA, a 3.87 FIP, 34 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 39.2 innings for Boston last season while adding eight saves and four holds. Bleier, meanwhile, turned in a 3.55 ERA and a 3.27 FIP in 50.2 innings for the Marlins, while adding 32 strikeouts, 10 walks, seven holds and a save. Of the duo, Barnes likely has more potential for save opportunities this coming season in Miami than Bleier does in Boston given Kenley Jansen's presence at the back end of the Red Sox bullpen.
The Boston Red Sox officially designated relief pitcher Matt Barnes for assignment on Tuesday, per the Athletic's Jen McCaffrey. The move was made to make room for recently-signed outfielder Adam Duvall. The 32-year-old righty did see some high-leverage situations over the course of the 2022 season but ended with an 0-4 record, eight of 10 save opportunities converted, and four holds to go with a 4.31 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 19.3% strikeout rate. He also missed time in the middle of the season with right shoulder inflammation. Barnes did earn 24 saves for the Red Sox in 2021, so he may be able to find a high-leverage spot with another team.
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes picked up his seventh save of the season in Monday's 4-3 win over the Rays. Barnes came in to close things out with a one-run lead. He got the first out on a groundout, allowed a triple, but then was able to get the tying run out at home on a fielder's choice before getting the final out on another groundout. Barnes has seen two of the team's last four save opportunities, but the Red Sox have used a number of pitchers in the late innings throughout the season. Barnes has not pitched particularly well this season, posting a 4.42 ERA with a 4.89 BB/9 rate. His fantasy value in 2023 will depend on his role, but his value will be limited either way if he does not pitch better.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save during Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He entered the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead. The 32-year-old needed 10 pitches to record his third save of the year. Barnes has struggled this season with a 6.45 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and a 20:14 K: BB across 22 1/3 innings. The right-hander has pitched well as of late, allowing just one run over his last 5 1/3 innings. With Tanner Houck (back) on the injured list, the Red Sox could turn to Barnes as the team's primary closer. Fantasy managers searching for saves can look to add Barnes in most league formats.
Boston Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes (shoulder), who has been on the 15-day injured list since May 31 with right shoulder inflammation, will make another minor league rehab outing for Double-A Portland this week, according to manager Alex Cora. Barnes will then throw in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday for Portland. Cora said there's a chance that the right-hander can return next week. Barnes has a rough 7.94 ERA, 5.30 FIP and 1.71 WHIP in 17 innings for the Red Sox this year and will likely be eased into low-leverage innings out of the bullpen when he returns. The 32-year-old pitched for Triple-A Worcester last Friday and Saturday, and his fastball was at 94-95 mph on Friday.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday. He won't be eligible to return until the end of July. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since May 31 with fluid buildup in his shoulder. He posted a 7.94 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 14 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 appearances for the Red Sox before he landed on the injured list. Barnes will likely be in a low-leverage role once he returns to action. The move to the 60-day injured list will give the right-hander more time to work on his control issues. Fantasy managers outside of deep-league formats can move on from the right-hander.
