The Marlins declined Barnes' (hip) $9 million option for 2024 on Sunday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Barnes will be paid a $2.25 buyout instead as he heads into free agency. The veteran reliever posted a 5.48 ERA over just 24 appearances this season before undergoing season-ending hip surgery in July. It's not clear when he might be ready to pitch in games again.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Moves to 60-day IL
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Barnes (hip) was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Barnes underwent surgery on his left hip Tuesday and is likely to be out for the rest of the season. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create space on the 40-man roster for David Robertson, whom the Marlins acquired from the Mets on Thursday.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Needs surgery, likely done for '23
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Barnes will undergo surgery on his left hip July 25, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
According to McPherson, Barnes won't be cleared for running and throwing until three months following his surgery, which effectively means that his season is over. A move to the 60-day injured list seems inevitable should the Marlins need to open a spot on the 40-man roster at some point, and he'll finish the 2023 campaign with a 5.48 ERA and 1.64 WHIP across 21.1 innings. Given that Miami holds a $9 million club option on the right-hander for 2024 with a $2.75 million buyout, it's possible he's pitched his last game for the club.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Works scoreless inning in rehab
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Barnes (hip) struck out a batter and gave up no hits and one walk in a scoreless inning during his rehab appearance Tuesday for the Marlins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate.
Barnes pitched a clean inning without much issue in what marked his first appearance at any level since June 1 after he landed on the injured list with a left hip impingement. The right-hander may require another minor-league appearance or two before the Marlins are comfortable adding him back to the MLB bullpen.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Throws bullpen session
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Barnes (hip) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Thursday marks Barnes' first bullpen session since landing on the injured list June 2 with a left hip impingement. He'll presumably throw another few sessions before beginning a rehab assignment in the coming weeks.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Heads to IL with hip injury
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Barnes was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left hip impingement, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Barnes was rocked for five runs while recording just one out during Thursday's loss to the Padres, but it appears he might have been pitching hurt. The veteran reliever will be replaced in the bullpen by George Soriano.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Opening bullpen game
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Barnes will be the first pitcher on the mound Saturday in what will likely be a bullpen game against the Cubs, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The Marlins had to scratch Bryan Hoeing for undisclosed reasons and will turn the ball over to a collection of relievers. Barnes will technically be making his first start since 2015, but it's unlikely he pitches more than an inning or two.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Pitching well to begin year
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Barnes struck out two over 1.2 perfect innings of relief in Sunday's loss to the Guardians.
Jesus Luzardo got the hook with one out in the fifth inning and his club down 4-1, but Barnes kept Miami in the game for another couple frames with an impressive performance. The veteran right-hander hasn't been in the high-leverage mix to begin the season, but that could soon change as he sports a 1.93 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB through 9.1 innings to begin his tenure with the Marlins.
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Marlins' Matt Barnes: Clean outing Wednesday
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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.
