After an injury-plagued season, the Nationals reportedly signed a fan favourite from the Red Sox.
A former Boston Red Sox All-Star is being taken on by the Washington Nationals.
According to Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com, the Washington Nationals are reportedly signing former Red Sox All-Star Matt Barnes to a minor league contract following some conjecture about a potential deal.
“Still searching for more experienced bullpen help, the Nationals have agreed to a minor league contract with former Red Sox closer Matt Barnes, according to a source familiar with the deal,” Zuckerman stated. Barnes will be the newest veteran reliever to report to the Nats’ major league camp on a non-guaranteed contract. He still needs to pass a physical in order to officially sign, but his goal is to take one of the two available spots in the Opening Day bullpen.
The 33-year-old right-hander, who spent his first big league season with the Red Sox, has a 4.13 ERA, 1.355 WHIP, and 47 saves in 10 big league seasons.Prior to the 2023 season, Barnes was traded to the Marlins for left-hander Richard Bleier, who is also a member of the Nats camp on a minor league deal. Barnes struggled to a 5.48 ERA in 24 games while missing a significant amount of time due to a hip injury. Officials from the club think he’s back to health and throwing without any problems.”
Barnes had been connected to the Nationals, and it appears that the team will provide him with his next chance. Prior to the 2023 season, Boston traded the righty to the Miami Marlins. In just 24 games, the pitcher recorded a 5.48 ERA and a 20–10 strikeout–to–walk ratio.
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Pitcher for the former Red Sox champion signs contract with NL team
About 400 miles southward now is a former champion of the Boston Red Sox.
Right-handed reliever Matt Barnes and the Washington Nationals have reached a minor-league agreement, according to a Tuesday report from Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports. In addition, they are inviting Barnes to a big-league camp, subject to a physical.
From 2014 to 22, Barnes, 33, was a pitcher for the Red Sox. After joining them to win the 2018 World Series, he went on to be their full-time closer and was selected to the AL All-Star team in 2021. However, prior to having hip surgery that ended his season in July, Barnes had a 5.48 ERA over 24 relief appearances during his previous season with the Miami Marlins.
Even though Kyle Finnegan, the Nationals’ closer, and Hunter Harvey, their setup man (both righties), should be considered starters, it never hurts to add more depth. Washington also signed a well-known former AL East player earlier this winter.
