The Arizona Diamondbacks selected veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart's contract Monday and designated pitcher Peter Strzelecki for assignment in a corresponding move. This means that Barnhart will serve as backup to Gabriel Moreno to start the season. The 33-year-old is a two-time Gold Glove winner and can provide experience and leadership off the bench. However, he has hit just .217 this spring and has never been much of an offensive fantasy option.
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Tucker Barnhart, who was signed to a minor-league deal this offseason, will compete with Jose Herrera to be the backup to everyday catcher Gabriel Moreno. Barnhart, 33, is a two-time Gold Glove-winning backstop and can provide experience and leadership off the bench, but he hit just .202/.285/.257 with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, and his offensive production has dipped over the last two seasons. If he makes the team out of spring training, the D-backs would only have to pay him the league minimum. The Cubs are paying Barnhart $3.25 million as part of a deal he signed prior to the 2023 season. His agreement with Arizona includes an opt-out clause at the end of spring training if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.
Tucker Barnhart, Jose Herrera To Compete For Backup Catcher Role
Newly-signed catcher Tucker Barnhart will reportedly compete with 26-year-old Jose Herrera to serve as the backup catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, per MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. While Gabriel Moreno has the starting spot, it is not yet determined who will serve as the backup, and the team could even bring in another backstop to add into the mix. Neither player offers much offensive upside, but the 32-year-old Barnhart is known for his defensive prowess. Regardless, it sounds as though both players will have the opportunity to win the role.
Diamondbacks, Tucker Barnhart Agree To Minor-League Deal
The Arizona Diamondbacks and free-agent catcher Tucker Barnhart agreed to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invite to spring training, per FanSided's Robert Murray. The 32-year-old veteran slashed just .202/.285/.257 with one home run and nine RBI in 123 plate appearances last season with the Cubs. However, Barnhart brings defensive prowess with him, having earned a pair of Gold Glove awards throughout his career. As such, he may be in the mix for the backup catcher role with the Diamondbacks. While his defensive skills may help the team out this season, his recent lack of offensive production makes him an afterthought in fantasy leagues.
The Chicago Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with a total guarantee of $6.5 million with free-agent catcher Tucker Barnhart on Thursday. The deal includes a player option for the 2024 season, and with performance bonuses and escalators, Barnhart has the potential to earn up to $9.5 million. The deal is still pending a physical. It was a rough year offensively for the 31-year-old in 2022, as he hit just .221/.287/.267 with a home run, 16 RBI and 16 runs scored in 308 plate appearances over 94 games played in his only season with the Detroit Tigers. Barnhart has never been much of an offensive weapon (career high of 11 home runs in 2019), so he'll only be worth looking at in two-catcher formats. In Chicago, he's set to platoon with Yan Gomes in 2023.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly interested in free-agent catcher Tucker Barnhart, per a tweet from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey on Wednesday morning. Mackey tweeted: "Per sources: Pirates have expressed interest in catcher Tucker Barnhart. Two-time Gold Glove winner has spent the bulk of his career with the Reds. Coming off down year with Detroit. Looking for bounce-back. Excellent fit." The veteran catcher previously appeared in 94 games for the Detroit Tigers in 2022, hitting .221 with a .287 on-base percentage and a home run in 308 plate appearances. As of right now, the only catching option on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster is Endy Rodriguez.
The Detroit Tigers are interested in exploring a contract extension with catcher Tucker Barnhart, who has impressed the team this spring. The 31-year-old will become a free agent after the 2022 season. The Tigers acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds in November of last year and picked up his $7.75 million team option for this season. Barnhart isn't much of an offensive force and therefore isn't much more than a fantasy backup consideration at his position, but he has handled Detroit's young pitching staff well and is solid defensively. Barnhart hit .247/.317/.368 with seven home runs and 48 RBI in 388 plate appearances over 116 games for the Reds last year and has a career .248 average with 51 homers in 744 games over eight big-league seasons.
Detroit Tigers catcher Tucker Barnhart has decided to pick up switch-hitting again this year after quitting two years ago. Barnhart has hit exclusively from the left side the last two seasons. The 31-year-old is more of a defense-first catcher and hit a combined .238/.311/.372 with 12 home runs and 61 RBI over the last two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds from the left side of the plate. Going back to switch-hitting is interesting, but it's highly unlikely to suddenly make him a force offensively. In his career, Barnhart has a .722 OPS against right-handers and just a .583 OPS against lefties. He'll be more of a target for fantasy managers in leagues that start two catchers.
The Detroit Tigers acquired catcher Tucker Barnhart from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in exchange for infield prospect Nick Quintana, according to sources. The Gold Glove catcher will fill a key area of need for the Tigers in 2022. Jake Rogers (elbow) is expected to miss most of next year following Tommy John surgery, and Eric Haase struggled down the stretch with regular playing time. The Reds made the move with 2015 first-round pick Tyler Stephenson set to be Cincy's catcher of the future. Detroit will pick up Barnhart's $7.5 million option for the 2022 season after he hit .247/.317/.368 in 388 plate appearances (97 starts) for the Reds. He'll provide a nice complement to Haase from the left side of the plate, but his strength remains his defense and pitch-calling. Quintana was a second-round pick in 2019 but hasn't moved past the Low-A level, mostly due to injuries.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart isn't in the lineup on Saturday for a matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Max Kranick. Barnhart is batting .248 with a .318 on-base percentage and seven home runs in 387 plate appearances this season. Instead, it'll be Tyler Stephenson starting behind the plate. Stephenson is hitting second and could be worth a look for fantasy managers looking for streaming help at catcher. Stephenson is batting .282 with a .364 on-base percentage and 10 home runs in 393 plate appearances this season.
