The Twins have acquired outfielder Brandon Barnes from the Indians, per an announcement from the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate in Columbus. While the move will surely generate some confusion because it comes after the July 31 trade deadline, Barnes was still tradeable by virtue of the fact that he’s on a minor league deal and at no point had been on a 40-man roster this season. (We took a look at how these and other minor moves could still occur yesterday here at MLBTR.)
Cleveland didn’t specify a return, though it’s quite likely that the veteran Barnes was merely flipped to Minnesota for cash. The Twins have been looking for outfield depth in the minors — they signed Ramon Flores out of indie ball two days ago — and the Indians, conversely, have come into some newfound outfield depth. The trade of Trevor Bauer netted them both Franmil Reyes and Yasiel Puig, thus pushing Greg Allen and Jake Bauers to Triple-A Columbus and squeezing Barnes out of his everyday job there.
Barnes, 33, has posted a .271/.336/.529 batting line with 24 home runs, 25 doubles and nine steals in 420 plate appearances with Cleveland’s top affiliate in Columbus this season. He’s spent parts of six seasons at the Major League level, most recently appearing in 19 games with Cleveland just last season. Barnes is capable of playing all three outfield spots but carries an underwhelming .242/.290/.357 batting line through 1274 big league plate appearances. He’ll give the Twins some depth in Triple-A Rochester.
In other news, Barnes is immediately called up where he hits .370/.540/.960 and wins the triple crown and WS MVP. You heard it here first.
With how everyone on that team has broken out this year, I doubt anyone would be surprised.
Haha all those people SCREAMING at me five days ago trades cannot be done in August must feel stupid now.
Hey, big effin deal! So we beat the KC Duds…I guess we’re supposed to just accept whatever we get? Oh yeah, dumb Minnesota Vikings fans accept whatever!! When will we force a boycott due to mediocrity?
No Pennant, no support!! MN Chump
So, someone like Rusney Castillo can be traded for another teams players that aren’t on their 40 man roster?
OK, Let’s say the Dodgers have an emergency at catcher… Russell Martin and Will Smith are put on the IL… the Dodgers can send a minor league player to Baltimore for Jesus Sucre. Done deal.
Or, better yet… Yankees are desperate for starting pitching and trade for Matt Manning of the Tigers. Yankees send Frazier… Ooops, but wait, he’s on the 40 man roster. Yankees just DFA Frazier. Tigers get first crack at signing a DFA player and they get Frazier.
Is this possible?
Or maybe……..
Dodgers really, really, really want Sucre… Orioles want Kyle Garlic…. he’s on the 40 man roster. Dodgers DFA Garlic, but in order for the Tigers to not select Garlic, the Dodgers also DFA Caleb Ferguson so the Tigers agree to take Ferguson in order to let Garlic through….
FYI… boss said I could have the day off today. I’m going to be here all day long.
I believe the national league gets first crack in the dodgers example no?
DOH!!! I think you’re right
League-specific waiver priority is no longer in place.
As for the DFA scenarios, if the league were going to allow such blatant circumvention of the rules they wouldn’t have put them in place.
Pretty sure it’s just based on reverse record now, with league being a tiebreaker.
If an odiot like me can find a loophole then they need better rules.
Why isn’t rusney castillo in the majors? Hes better than any tiger outfielder and better than many in the majors.
Player not on 40 for PTBNL?
Rusney isn’t in the majors for 3 reasons:
1) the redsox have superior OFers already in mlb;
2) his elevated salary doesn’t count against the luxury tax because of a loophole that was open when he was sent down but has since been closed, and doing anything with him would damage that;
3) he’s been good at AAA but nobody knows how well that will translate to mlb this time around. When younger, it didnt.
he still makes a sizeable 10+ mm/yr for a player who hasn’t proven able to do anything at the highest level. Boston isn’t going to absorb that with their own lux tax issues, or even a part of it. Nobody else is willing to offer anything of value with that contract for an untested player.
You also have a job?
I teach high school algebra.
I thought this was a reply to Mr. Complicated. You also have a job?
Frasier would never pass through waivers unclaimed. Therefore, your Yankees/Tigers Scenario wouldn’t work.
Since the Tigers have MLB’s worst record, don’t they get first crack at waived players?
I’m pretty sure tigers would get first shot. That’s why I had them as the trade partner.
Is it just me or are there a bunch of cranky people replying? I just wanted to know how the process worked. Sheesh.
guy can’t get on base to save his life, but he was a good defender in Houston.
Over/ Under on the number of “but it’s past the deadline” comments?
but it IS past the deadline!
that would be awesome
2 odd trade partners right now.
Cash is cash.
And it’s not like the Twins and Indians are the Mets and Yankees.
Usually the cash in these deals is minimal. About a month ago the Tribe did a similar deal and explained it was almost like releasing the player so he could take advantage of a better opportunity elsewhere. Such handling of these AAAA type vets enables them to sign guys knowing they’re not stuck if something better comes along.
Always liked this guy. Should have gotten a shot over “no-bat” Jake.
Hey, big effin deal! So we beat the KC Duds…I guess we’re supposed to just accept whatever we get? Oh yeah, dumb Minnesota Vikings fans accept whatever!! When will we force a boycott due to mediocrity?
No Pennant, no support!! MN Chump