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The Dodgers have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent catcher Tucker Barnhart, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The Ballengee Group shopper was launched by the Cubs final week.
Barnhart, 32, signed a two-year, $6.5MM take care of the Cubs over the winter. The second season of that contract is a participant choice, although that’s a moot level for the Dodgers, who’re inking him to a brand new minor league deal. The Cubs will stay on the hook for the remainder of Barnhart’s wage each this yr and subsequent — minus the prorated league minimal for any time he spends on a giant league roster with the Dodgers or one other staff.
In 44 video games with Chicago, Barnhart tallied 123 plate appearances however mustered solely a .202/.285/.257 batting line with a 9.8% stroll charge and 32.1% strikeout charge. It was Barnhart’s second straight yr with all of his charge stats clocking in beneath .300, as he batted .221/.287/.267 in 308 journeys to the plate with the Tigers final season.
Maybe the Cubs felt Barnhart had an excellent likelihood to rebound to his 2015-21 ranges of manufacturing (.249/.326/.375), however that clearly didn’t occur throughout his restricted time at Wrigley Subject. They had been possible drawn to his longstanding standing as a extremely regarded defender as nicely, however Barnhart has taken some steps again in that regard this yr. Whereas he continues to grade as a top quality framer, this season’s 19% caught-stealing charge is a career-low. Statcast additionally pegged Barnhart as the perfect within the sport at blocking pitches within the grime from 2018-22, however he’s graded out beneath the league common in that capability in 2023. The Cubs turned to 24-year-old Miguel Amaya to staff with Yan Gomes behind the plate, and their longtime catching prospect has delivered a .235/.363/.392 slash in 125 plate appearances since primarily changing Barnhart.
The Dodgers have one among baseball’s finest all-around catchers, Will Smith, and have deployed veteran Austin Barnes in a backup capability since 2015. Barnes, nevertheless, is sitting on a career-worst .165/.235/.209 output on the plate this yr. He’s been one of many least-effective hitters within the sport over his 154 plate appearances, and opponents have gone 56-for-62 in opposition to him in stolen base makes an attempt.
The signing of Barnhart doesn’t essentially jeopardize Barnes’ spot on the roster, but it surely does give Los Angeles a veteran choice if the staff needs to hold three catchers or finally make a swap. Barnhart’s numbers this yr aren’t a lot to take a look at, however they’re a bit higher than these of Barnes. And previous to this addition, the Dodgers weren’t precisely deep in seasoned choices ought to an harm happen. Journeymen Patrick Mazeika and David Freitas are each on the roster in Triple-A, however neither has a lot large league time. High prospect Diego Cartaya is very touted, however he’s struggled in his first season on the Double-A degree and wasn’t prone to be an choice, ought to a necessity come up. For now, Barnhart will presumably head to Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, but it surely’s attainable he’ll floor again within the large leagues sooner or later subsequent month — significantly with rosters set to increase to twenty-eight gamers on Friday.
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