Red Sox righty Matt Barnes will be a free agent after the 2021 season, but the 30-year-old tells Alex Speier of the Boston Globe that he hopes to spend his entire career in Boston. To that end, Barnes revealed that he and the organization had discussed a multi-year deal that would have extended his time with the Red Sox “beyond next year.”
There’s no indication to this point that the two sides plan to resume talks, although Barnes makes clear that he’s plenty open to the possibility. All 30 big league clubs were impacted by the lack of gate revenue in 2020, and all are still waiting to ascertain just what the 2021 season will look like in terms of fan attendance, length of season and other factors.
Barnes saw his strikeout and walk rates both trend in the wrong direction in 2020, although as Speier points out, he finished the season with a strong showing in September. Barnes’ track record on the whole in Boston is quite good, and the past four seasons in particular have seen him assume a prominent role in the team’s relief corps. Dating back to 2017, Barnes owns a 3.83 ERA and a 3.30 FIP, having averaged 13.2 K/9, 4.6 BB/9 and 0.99 HR/9 with a 49.1 percent ground-ball rate. From 2018-19, only four of the 108 qualified relievers in MLB struck out a greater percentage of batters faced than Barnes: Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, Aroldis Chapman and Kirby Yates.
Barnes and the Red Sox agreed to a $4.5MM salary for the upcoming season earlier this week, so his earnings are locked in barring the restructuring of that salary as part of a longer-term deal. Any such contract talks aren’t likely to happen in the near future, however. Extensions are most commonly negotiated during Spring Training even under normal circumstances — hence last spring’s talks referenced by Barnes — and that figures to be more true than ever as teams wait to gather information that will determine their revenue streams in 2021.
If Barnes does eventually reach the market next winter, he’ll join what looks to be a rather weak class of free-agent relievers. Assuming a solid season in 2021, Barnes could make a case for himself as one of the more appealing names on the market.
I’d like to commend Steve for finding something to write up on this slow-as-molasses news day.
Exactly but just wait till Bloom starts his dumpster diving.
Barnes had a rough season last year. It would probably be smart for Boston to let him play out his final season (or at least get thru July) before locking him up on a multi-year deal, even if that means they have to pay slightly more for him if he has a great season. He’s such a streaky pitcher. He’ll be lights out for 4-5 appearances in a row and then look horrible in his next 2-3 outings. He should still add value to the team over the full season, but I’m hoping that Boston is not planning on using him as their closer this year. He struggled badly last year as a closer and he walks way too many batters to be trusted to finish out the game.
Sale should close like Smoltz did after Tommy John surgery and build up his arm strength before trying to start.
Barnes can close. Close the door on the Sox winning that is. I just envision him walking in the tying and winning runs game after game. A good pitcher in non late inning pressure situations but just untrustworthy other than late 18 when the game is on the line.
That’s a terrible idea… we need him in the rotation.
That and being a reliever won’t necessarily help him stay healthy. He’ll build up his arm strength as part of his rehab process in the minor leagues.
Interesting idea for Sale. I kind of like it. Even more so as it seems his confidence probably took a hit the last year he pitched. Good way to rebuild strength, physical and mental.
Barnes seems to crack under pressure. Usually only does well with a clean inning to start AND getting the first out. When he walks the leadoff batter I’m just waiting for him to implode.
They should have cut him
I thought your comment was rather terse and uninformed, but I quickly justified agreeing with you. Barnes is NOT a closer, as he has deer-in-the-headlightsitis when put in that role. And he’s not going to give you 2-3 innings regularly, as his pitching assortment only plays well when he’s at full strength. That leaves him as what he is – a pretty damn effective 7th or 8th inning guy, perhaps a couple innings depending on pitch count. However, at $4m plus he’s not a roster value. While the Bosox can afford the expense perhaps the money and roster spot would be best allocated elsewhere.
I agree. His stuff isn’t what it was. They should let Sale close for 2021 and then let him try to return to starting. Boston is my team but Barnes hurts them more than he helps. The Yankees owned him.last year! He’s just not a closer anymore!
This is a great post and you make very accurate and solid points on Barnes.
Barnes’ knuckle curve did not have the usual bite to it last year.
How many replacements are better for the money, and are they available??????
Even at $4.5 million he is worth keeping…. He is way better than Joe Kelly at $9 million per year! Octavio is making a boat load for being horrible.
Barnes leaves a lot to be desired, but show me a better reliever for less money and available and sign him too.
Forget the money. If a player is undependable, why compare him to those that make more? Why not use those that cost less and build mediocre depth that can at least save the arms of those that you need down the stretch?
Looie – Unfortunately there are not many relievers more reliable than Barnes available……
At 4.5 this year… you’re absolutely right. How much is his AAV for any proposed extension?
Ok for this year but unless he’s willing to take say $11 for three years I’d let him play out this year and try someone else, anyone else in 22. He also throws too many pitches which is probably why his power his diminished.
I’d say 18m for 3yr is pushing his ceiling. Realistically something around 13m/3yr is a deal for the club.
Reality is, pitching is expensive these days. Barnes is decent with some upside. don’t focus too much on such a short year in 2020, especially after how long everyone was kept idle with little ramp up time.
FA relievers, even setup men, with decent results are pulling down more than 5m a season.
The way the game has gone, value is mostly in the closer and the young arms (that don’t cost much) you develop through the draft, international finds or trades.
I hope Barnes stays, he’s from the same town as me and Meg Ryan and P.T. Barnum. What’s not to like.
Barnes is lights out when used in the 7th or 8th inning, its the 9th inning that he can’t pitch in. If the Sox sign a Closer and stop putting Barnes in a situation he can’t handle he will rebound nicely
Reminds me of Dellin Betances when he was with the Yankees, because he as good as he was in the 7th and 8th (when healthy), he couldn’t cut it in the 9th.
Some Pitchers are just not cut out for Closing. Agree on Betances, that guy was a beast setting up for the Closer but you could almost guarantee he would cough up the lead if you brought him in in the 9th
If he had a little control he would be a generational reliever
His problem is like so many today who overthrow and have no control. Sadly he also has no control over his curve, beautiful pitch but what good is a curve that hitters have stopped swinging at?
You have to question how much Bloom is in full control. Bringing back Cora and overpaying for the three relievers makes ZERO sense unless someone above is in love with them.
that’s just baseless. i understand the argument on Cora, but that’s kinda a special case given Cora’s situation. the reliever argument makes no sense at all though.
They don’t have anything better atm. Doesn’t mean some won’t declare themselves during the season. Barnes was burnt out, over used, the entire BP was overused, but hopefully thatll change this yr, maybe Hernandez?
Adding, I do not like Barnes cept in non pressure times.
Yeah Barnes agent discussed and they said no!
Wow, I had no idea he was such short strikeout artist.
I think at this point, particularly because he had a down year last season, that they should wait at least until the all-star break to consider resigning him. If he does come out of the gate hot it might wind up costing them a little bit more $ — but I think the risk of signing him to a long term extension and having him wind up being a bust is too high. He’s a very solid reliever, but not a spectacular one — and if he takes a bit of a step back and really settles into being a 4.00+ ERA pitcher… he could still provide value given his K ability… But you definitely don’t want to be paying him $5-$10M for that type of production. If he’s got an ERA around 3.00 then I think you consider a 3/$21M type extension but not if he’s putting up numbers like he did in 2020.
Forget about Matt Barnes The Redsox need Archie Bradley because Archie is in the same class as Josh Hader & if The Boston Red Sox don’t sign Archie Bradley IMMEDIATELY Bloom is a complete & utter moron.. Bradley is 1-A when it comes to relievers.. He’s so young that they can sign Archie to a 4 year deal with an option & he’d be worth every single penny of that 5 year deal.. Archie Bradley will solidify our bullpen for those next 5 year’s I guarantee it.. SIGN HIM BLOOM !!!