The Crimson Sox introduced that they’ve designated right-hander Matt Barnes for project. His roster spot will go to outfielder Adam Duvall, whose signing is now official.
Barnes, 33 in June, has spent his total profession with the Crimson Sox to date. They chose him again in 2011, utilizing the nineteenth general decide to seize him.
He transitioned from the rotation to the bullpen whereas within the minors and ultimately established himself as a strong reliever within the Boston bullpen.
From 2016-20, he made 288 appearances with a 3.88 ERA. His 11.6% stroll price was actually on the excessive facet however he additionally struck out 31.9% of opponents and bought grounders at a 48.1% clip.
Within the first half of 2021, he appeared to take his sport to a brand new stage. Via July 10, he had already tossed 37 innings on the yr with a 2.68 ERA, hanging out an unimaginable 44.6% of opponents whereas strolling simply 7.2%.
He additionally took over because the membership’s nearer, racking up 19 saves by that time within the season already, regardless of solely having 15 in his profession previous to that season.
He was slated to hit the open market on the finish of that yr however the Sox determined they wished to lock him up and agreed to a two-year, $18.75M extension with a membership possibility for 2024.
Sadly, issues have gone downhill for Barnes for the reason that ink dried on that deal. He posted a 6.11 ERA in the remainder of the 2021 marketing campaign and was initially left off the membership’s postseason roster, although he later re-joined the membership as an damage alternative.
In 2022, he struggled badly out of the gate, posting a 7.94 ERA by way of the tip of Could, when he landed on the injured listing as a consequence of irritation in his throwing shoulder.
He got here again in August and posted a 1.59 ERA from then out, however that also left his season-long ERA at 4.31.
Regardless of that sturdy end, he has evidently been pushed off the roster in Boston, a exceptional turnaround for a man who regarded like the most effective relievers in baseball a yr and a half in the past.
The Sox will now have per week to commerce Barnes or cross him by way of waivers. He will probably be making a $7.5M wage this yr and has a $2.25M buyout on the $8M membership possibility for subsequent yr.
Except the Sox can discover a commerce companion, they are going to be on the hook for the $9.75M nonetheless owed to Barnes. If he had been to clear waivers, he has greater than 5 years of MLB service time, that means he can reject an outright project and turn into a free agent whereas retaining all of that cash.
Ought to he turn into a free agent and signal elsewhere, one other membership would solely must pay him the protated league minimal for any time spent on the roster, with that quantity being subtracted from what the Sox pay.
iTalk Studios reported that Barnes can be designated for project earlier than the official announcement.
