Red Sox designate Matt Barnes for assignment
Barnes was the longest-tenured Red Sox on the roster
I can’t say this is something any one would have expected to have happened this offseason. The Red Sox have designated reliever Matt Barnes for assignment on Tuesday night, per source. The move ends the right-hander’s nine-year stint with the organization.
Boston’s decision to designate Barnes allowed the club to clear a 40-man spot for the newly signed outfielder Adam Duvall.
The Red Sox now have seven days to waive, trade or release Barnes.
Barnes was expected to be a key member of the Red Sox bullpen in 2023, especially after posting a 1.59 ERA in 22 2/3 innings in his last 24 games in 2022.
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom spoke with the media on Tuesday night and talked about the difficult decision to move on from the veteran Barnes.
“Obviously a really, really difficult decision. The conversation itself was one of the more difficult ones I’ve had,” Bloom said. “The DFA process has to play itself out so there’s a limited amount I want to say about it until it does. More than anything, this is a function of where we’re at in the offseason and with our 40-man roster. There were no easy decisions.”
Barnes was the Red Sox longest-tenured player on the roster after making his debut in 2014. Boston will be responsible for the former All-Star’s $9.75 million ($7.5 million salary in 2023 and a $2.25 million buyout on a 2024 club option) remaining on the two-year, $18.75 million extension he signed in July 2021.
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