The Boston Red Sox had a disappointing season in 2022, finishing at the bottom of the AL East with a 78-84. They made a number of acquisitions in free agency to shake things up in 2023, but it appears former All-Star reliever Matt Barnes will not be a part of those plans.
Boston signed former Atlanta Braves outfielder Adam Duvall on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, they have designated Barnes for assignment.
To make room for Duvall on the 40-man roster, Boston designated RHP Matt Barnes for assignment.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 24, 2023
This means that Boston will now have seven days to either trade Barnes to an interested team or release him.
The veteran reliever has been with the Red Sox for the entirety of his nine-year MLB career, making an All-Star game in 2021 with the organization.
His performance slipped in the 2022 season, finishing with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.437 WHIP in 44 appearances on the year.
Many Red Sox fans were completely shocked by this news and took to social media to wish Barnes the best in his future endeavors around the MLB.
Another departure that stings pretty bad. I am very much going to miss seeing Matt Barnes around Fenway. Awesome human being. Great competitor. All Star. World Series champ. Matty Backpacks forever. pic.twitter.com/JrNpn4O8pp
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) January 25, 2023
As for Matt Barnes, he was one of eight RHPs in the majors with at least 200 games + 195 IP from 2017-19.
He also pitched in 10 of the 14 playoff games in 2018 and was nails. Not sure they win without him.
Had 96 mph at the end of last season. He's only 32, lot more to come.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) January 25, 2023
Matt Barnes closed out the final game of the 2022 season.
Hits different now. pic.twitter.com/Eag0IiQl1f
— Jared Carrabis Podcast (@carrabispod) January 25, 2023
The best/worst thing that ever happened to Matt Barnes was that contract extension.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) January 25, 2023
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom discussed the decision to designate Barnes for assignment on Tuesday, saying that it was a “really difficult decision”.
“Obviously a really really difficult decision,” said Bloom via NBC Sports Boston. “The conversation itself was one of the more difficult ones that I have had. I think more than anything I think more than anything this is a function of where we’re at in the offseason and with our 40-man roster. There are no easy decisions.”
"Obviously a really, really difficult decision. The conversation itself was one of the more difficult ones that I've had"
Chaim Bloom on the decision to DFA Matt Barnes ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ak7Kf95zm4
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) January 25, 2023
Barnes is just 32 years old and given his years of solid production for the Red Sox, he should have no issues sticking on another team’s 40-man roster in 2023.
[Boston Red Sox on Twitter, NBC Sports Boston on Twitter]