The Tigers have signed right-hander Jacob Barnes to a minor league deal. The club also announced that Barnes will receive an invitation to the Tigers’ big league Spring Training camp.
Barnes elected free agency in October rather than accept an outright assignment to the Blue Jays’ Triple-A team. Barnes is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and was projected for a $1.2MM salary, but the Jays’ outright assignment was essentially a non-tender that allowed Barnes to get an early jump on the free agent market.
After posting a 3.54 ERA and 11.6% homer rate over 147 1/3 innings out of the Brewers’ bullpen from 2016-18, Barnes’ numbers began to sail north thanks in large part to an increase in his home run rate. In 79 1/3 innings since the start of the 2019 season, Barnes has a 6.58 ERA and an 18.8% homer rate, which has caused him to bounce around to five different clubs over that three-season span.
In 2021, the 31-year-old posted a 6.28 ERA over 28 2/3 combined innings with the Mets and Blue Jays in 2021, along with a 25.8% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate. Barnes has continually gotten some strong spin rates on his mid-90s fastball, but apart that four-seamer, he has had trouble finding consistent results with any of the other pitches in his arsenal.
Barnes will get another chance in the Tigers’ camp, as Detroit will likely audition more than a few veteran arms during their spring camp. The Tigers bullpen wasn’t particularly good in 2021, yet as aggressive as the team has already been with its winter shopping, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them turn their attention to more established relief options now that some of their bigger-ticket additions (Javier Baez, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Tucker Barnhart) have been added to the roster.
Lot of K’s / lot of BB but there’s always a pitching coach who thinks they can fix the BB
Tigers pitching coach does fix guys. He’s the reason why the Tiger pitchers are ascending.
Why? The guy stinks. Anyone can fill relief innings in meaningless games, might as well let a younger guy do it rather than a guy who you know is going to get hammered consistently.
It’s a minor league signing. I think you’re getting hammered constantly if you are worried about him.
It’s a minor league deal with an invite to camp. Most likely won’t make the team, but he’s a guy who’s had a bit of success so why not sign him for minor league depth and in camp you can allow Fetter to try and work his magic with him.
If it works out great, if it doesn’t work out there’s no loss.
This always happens whenever a team signs a player to a minor league deal. There’s at least one attention seeker who loses their mind(s) overreacting and believing the player is meant to be with the big club just because he signs a minor league deal. That’s all it is. As Brandon said, if it works out, great. If it doesn’t work out, no loss. So in that respect I have to say to a761506, Lighten up Francis! It’s not costing the Tigers a spot on the 40 man and nobody’s losing out on a job because of this signing.
Slightly above ave..walk rate. Doesn’t really look like a point of concern. Let’s see what the coaches can do. While the do need depth in the pen, you can never have too many arms. Hope they go after Chafin.
Tigers do have a solid pitching coach in Chris Fetter. He did a great job with the U-M team for a few years, and seems to have a great relationship with Hinch. I think he may be able to help some of these types of pitchers. Not a whole lot invested if they don’t pan out.
Please fix Matt Manning.
Manning isn’t broken. He’s a taller pitcher and he wasn’t even a baseball player growing up. He’s taking a year or two longer but he will be fine.
Please help Matt Manning.
Those HRs could become loud outs more often than not in CoPa…
A bit of an enigma when he was with Milwaukee. He would look great for a game or two, but then blow up the next time out. Towards the end it was a lot less of the former than the latter.
I hope he finds success in Detroit.
MISSED IT BY THAT [ = ] MUCH !!
According to informed sources, The Marlins were in on Jacob Barnes right up until he signed the deal to join the Tigers.. The Marlins made a “strong” offer, but not one that matched the Tigers’ financial commitment. The Marlins weren’t the only team to be outbid.
The Minnesota Twins had also been linked to Barnes.
Fully faxed, boostered and sick as a dog.
Jacob Barnes is fully faxed? How did he do that? I can’t imagine he’d fit in a fax machine.
I’m not even going to touch boostered or sick as a dog.
I’m just wondering who the Tigers will get for the Pen. I can’t think of anyone who has been rumored or that they’re interested in or anything. I know they need a lefty to replace Holland, at least.
I’m sure Tyler Alexander will take Holland’s place if they can sign a fifth starter.
Ya, I’m curious to see what they do considering they were in the running for Ray.
Ray = due diligence. I don’t believe they were actually very serious about him, IMHO. I believe they’ll go for some second tier pitcher, one that can eat innings but nobody spectacular.
I thought the same thing about the Tigers going after an unspectacular innings eater. In fact, I kinda hoped it’d be Jon Gray, but that ship has sailed. I knew nothing about Ray till they said Detroit was interested and then the next day he signed with Seattle. So, I never even pondered any reasoning. If we were to sign one of the horses available, then I would’ve preferred Scherzer. Everyone knew he wouldn’t cost more than a few years.