Barnes walked one and struck out one in a scoreless sixth inning during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The right-hander was the first reliever in the game for the Marlins after Trevor Rogers hit the showers, which in the spring is a spot generally reserved for high-leverage options. Barnes' 6:4 K:BB through 4.2 innings in camp isn't exactly sharp, however, and it's an ominous sign for a pitcher who's posted a walk rate above 11.0 percent in four of the last five seasons. Miami isn't expected to go into 2023 with a set closer, instead mixing and matching among four different late-inning arms, but Dylan Floro still seems to be ahead of Barnes in the pecking order from the right side.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Could be part of closing committee
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Marlins manager Skip Schumaker indicated Wednesday he doesn't plan on using a traditional closer and will instead play matchups with Barnes and the team's other high-leverage options, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports. "Our best guys are going to be against their best hitters," Schumaker said.
The 32-year-old right-hander is coming off a shaky season in Boston, but Barnes racked up 24 saves for the Red Sox in 2021. He also piled up 90 holds over a four-year stretch earlier in his career. Dylan Floro, Tanner Scott and fellow offseason addition A.J. Puk also figure to be in the mix for late-inning work in Miami, with Steven Okert (triceps) and JT Chargois potentially options as well. Given the sheer number of viable arms at the manager's disposal, there may not end up being one consistent save source on the Marlins this season, but plenty of fantasy value in formats that count holds as well.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Traded to Miami
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The Marlins acquired Barnes along with cash considerations from the Red Sox on Monday in exchange for left-handed reliever Richard Bleier, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Barnes will move on to a new organization after the Red Sox designated him for assignment last week to clear room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Adam Duvall. While the right-hander is coming off a rough season and is owed $8.38 million for 2023 with an $8 million club option or $2.25 million buyout for 2024, Miami will pay the majority of his salary. Barnes struggled to a 4.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 39.2 innings in 2022, but Miami's decision to take on his salary suggests he could be in line to fill a high-leverage role out of the bullpen, even if he doesn't enter the season as the team's preferred option to close games.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Moved off 40-man roster
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Barnes was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
This is the corresponding 40-man roster move for Boston's completion of a free-agent agreement with Adam Duvall. Barnes is due $8.375 million in 2023 and carries a $2.25 million buyout on his $8 million club option for 2024, but he gets the boot after struggling to a 4.31 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 34:21 K:BB over 39.2 innings last season. Because of the money owed, Barnes will almost certainly pass through waivers unclaimed. He figures to then move on to another team. Kenley Jansen is the heavy favorite for saves in the Red Sox bullpen leading into the 2023 campaign.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Notches eighth save in finale
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Barnes pitched a perfect ninth inning on his way to a save in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Rays.
Barnes was called upon to protect a 6-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning, setting the Rays down in order for a save, his eighth of the campaign and third in his last three appearances. The right-hander will finish the 2022 season with a 4.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while striking out 34 batters, and he went 8-for-10 in save chances over 39.2 innings in 44 appearances out of Boston's bullpen.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Snags seventh save
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Barnes pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit while notching a save in Monday's 4-3 victory against the Rays.
Barnes entered the game in the top of the ninth inning tasked with protecting a 4-3 lead. He was able to work around a one-out triple by Wander Franco to escape with his seventh save of the campaign. Barnes has now produced 11 consecutive scoreless outings since Aug. 31, pitching 10.1 innings while striking out seven batters over that stretch. The right-hander has now gone 7-for-9 on save chances while producing a 4.42 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with 34 strikeouts over 38.2 innings in 43 appearances this season.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Earns sixth save
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Barnes picked up the save Wednesday in a scoreless ninth inning against the Orioles. He allowed one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
Barnes allowed a leadoff single which was quickly erased by a double play, but he proceeded to walk the next batter before striking out Adley Rutschman to end the game. The save was his sixth of the season and first since Sept. 11. He now has a streak of 10 straight appearances without allowing a run dating back to Aug. 31, dropping his ERA from 6.04 to 4.54 in the process.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Slams door for fifth save
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Barnes struck out two in a perfect frame to earn a save over the Orioles on Sunday.
Barnes needed just 10 pitches to finish off the 1-0 victory and pick up his first save since Aug. 31. He's now converted five of his seven chances on the year and lowered his ERA to 5.40 through 31.2 frames. Since the start of August, Barnes owns a 15:6 K:BB and a 2.45 ERA across 16 appearances.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Can't lock down save
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Barnes allowed three hits over a scoreless third of an inning in Saturday's 5-3 win over Texas.
Barnes got the call in a save situation, opening the ninth inning of a 5-3 game, but couldn't lock down the save. He left with the bases loaded, and John Schreiber got the final two outs. Barnes remains in the mix for high-leverage outs and save opportunities, as Tanner Houck (back) will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the regular season.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Secures save Wednesday
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Barnes allowed one hit and one walk over one scoreless inning to record a save against the Twins on Wednesday.
Barnes got the ball in the ninth inning with Boston holding a one-run lead and made things interesting, allowing the first two batters he faced to reach base. However, he rebounded to induce a flyout and a double play to successfully convert the save. It was his first opportunity to close in over two weeks, so Barnes is probably still behind Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber in the pecking order. He pitched relatively well in August, posting a 2.92 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB over 12.1 innings.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Notches third save
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Barnes threw a perfect inning to pick up the save Tuesday against the Pirates. He struck out two.
The veteran reliever needed just 10 pitches to take care of the bottom of the Pirates' order and secure his third save of the season. This was his first save since returning from the IL in early August, as manager Alex Cora has turned to Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber for recent save opportunities. The Red Sox closer situation is murky at the moment with any of Whitlock, Schreiber and Barnes in contention for saves, but Barnes still figures to be third in line as he carries a subpar 6.45 ERA and 1.52 WHIP on the season.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Escapes self-inflicted jam
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Barnes allowed one hit, hit a batter and struck out two over one scoreless inning in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Yankees.
Barnes got himself into a one-out, two-on jam after plunking Aaron Judge, but the right-hander was amped up while walking off the mound after striking out Anthony Rizzo and Josh Donaldson. It was a brief glimpse into the old Barnes -- the All Star of a season ago. This was the second consecutive good outing for Barnes, who has allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings since being activated off the injured list. With Boston's bullpen in turmoil, the old Barnes would be a big help.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Officially reinstated Thursday
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Barnes (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Barnes has been sidelined by the shoulder issue since late May and has been cleared to rejoin the big-league roster after an eight-game rehab assignment in the minors. The veteran right-hander surrendered seven earned runs across 7.2 innings with Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland. Barnes had a 7.94 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 14:12 K:BB across 17 frames prior to the injury and will likely fill a low-leverage role now that he's healthy.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Return imminent
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Barnes (shoulder) might be activated next week, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Barnes is rehabbing with Double-A Portland and appeared for the Sea Dogs on Friday, the second of back-to-back outings for the right-hander. He hit 96 mph during Thursday's appearance and could provide a boost to Boston's bullpen, which ranks 25th in ERA (4.25) and leads the majors in blown saves (21).
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Perfect in Portland
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Barnes (shoulder) retired all three batters he faced, including two by strikeout, in the fourth inning for Double-A Portland on Thursday.
Barnes made his seventh rehab outing Thursday and is seemingly close to returning to the majors. The organization has scheduled him to throw back-to-back days so he's expected to appear Friday as well, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. When relievers on rehab pitch back-to-back days, that's typically the final step before their activation.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Continues rehab assignment
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Barnes (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Barnes has already made five rehab outings between rookie ball and Triple-A Worcester, and he'll continue the minor-league assignment Tuesday with Portland. Manager Alex Cora said the veteran right-hander is also scheduled to pitch back-to-back days Friday and Saturday, which could be the final hurdle before he is reinstated from the injured list.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Rehabs at Worcester
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Barnes (shoulder) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two over two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Worcester on Friday.
Barnes was feeling good Saturday following the appearance, according to Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican. "At least stuff-wise, it was good," Boston manager Alex Cora said about Barnes, adding the righty's fastball was at 94-95 mph. "Physically, he was good. So that's a good sign." This was Barnes' fourth rehab outing after making three appearances for the club's rookie-level affiliate in the Florida Complex League.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Shifts to 60-day IL
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Barnes (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.
Barnes has been sidelined since May 31 due to fluid buildup in his right shoulder, and he now won't be eligible to return until the end of July. The 32-year-old recently began a rehab assignment with the Red Sox's rookie-level FCL affiliate, and he'll continue building up over the next couple weeks. He had a 7.94 ERA over 17 innings prior to the injury, so the extended rehab stint will also given him a chance to iron out his issues.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Begins rehab assignment
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Barnes (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with the Red Sox's rookie-level Florida Coast League affiliate Saturday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
Barnes progressed to facing live hitters Monday and tossed another bullpen session Thursday. The right-hander gave up three runs on three hits in one inning Saturday, but his rehab assignment should be the final step in his recovery process. It's possible that Barnes will have additional appearances in the minors since he wasn't particularly effective prior to landing on the injured list.
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Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Facing live hitters Monday
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Barnes (shoulder) will face live batters Monday for the first time in his rehab, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Barnes threw yet another bullpen session at Fenway South in Fort Myers on Thursday and is ready for the next challenge. He's been sidelined since the end of May.
