Former major league reliever Tony Barnette is calling it a career. “I’ve thrown my last pitch,” the right-hander declared Tuesday on Instagram.
It’s almost a year to the day the Cubs signed Barnette to a $750K guarantee on Feb. 1, 2019. The low-risk move didn’t work out for either side, though, as shoulder issues stopped Barnette from pitching until late June. Once Barnette did take the hill with the Cubs, he made just two appearances and threw a meager 1 1/3 innings before going on the restricted list July 1 for family reasons. The Cubs had a $3MM option on the 36-year-old for 2020, but they made the predictable decision to decline it in November.
Prior to joining the Cubs, Barnette was at times a highly successful bullpen option with the Rangers. As a rookie in 2016, Barnette pitched to a sterling 2.09 ERA across 60 1/3 innings. That was the beginning of an up-and-down Texas tenure for Barnette, who struggled in 2017 but posted great numbers the next season; however, shoulder problems cut him down that year and held him to 26 1/3 innings.
Of course, it would be unfair to Barnette to ignore the overseas success he enjoyed during his professional baseball career. He was a 10th-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2006 who, after spending a few years in the minors, joined the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball in advance of the 2010 season. Barnette was terrific in Japan, where he posted a 3.58 ERA across 316 1/3 innings, logged 9.6 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9 and amassed 97 saves in six seasons before returning stateside.
Barnette only picked up two saves in the majors, but he’ll still end his MLB career with solid numbers – a 3.53 ERA with 8.17 K/9 and 2.66 BB/9 in 145 1/3 frames. MLBTR wishes him the best in retirement.
Who????
lol, I watch as much baseball as anyone and I said the exact same thing. I don’t mean to be rude, he’s obviously much more talented than I ever was or will be at baseball, but I don’t understand getting a notification for this — especially when my settings for the app are primarily Cincinnati Reds based…
He had a decent comeback last year after playing in japan. Not a flashy career but had two stints in the mlb which not many can say they’ve done
I loved him on the rangers a few years ago, and hate to see him go… I wanted him to come back to Texas to rejuvenate his career, but that never happened. Good luck to him.
Am I the only one taking this seriously?
He was solid for a few years with Texas. And he’s a millionaire. So that’s cool
Why are you taking the retirement of a journeymen reliever seriously?
Why are you taking the retirement of a journeymen reliever seriously?
An incredible player in his day. Deserves a shot at the Hall.
You’ll be missed, but what great memories.
Well (long pause) he did have two saves and never made an error. Okay, sure.
Good long with retirement tony. We hardly knew ye
Up and Down tenure… it sounds like more of the latter
Kudos to him. Gotta have respect for anyone who can put on an MLB jersey and play at the highest level
Kudos to him. Gotta have respect for anyone who can put on an MLB jersey and play at the highest level
better than he was given credit for
Oh wait! I thought this said Tony Barnett without the E. I had no idea the Tony Barnette was retiring. Now I feel like a complete jackass. They don’t make them like him anymore. Today is indeed a sad day in the history of MLB.
He made $5.5 M in his career. Enough to retire comfortably on as long as he’s responsible.
Investing 2 million a year at 3 percent interest is $60,000 . You sure can live off that 5 million if you’re smart
That’s why I’ll never understand why the NBA and NFL players go broke after they retire …you don’t hear about that happening as much in the MLB or NHL
Respect the comeback
Tony Barnette has had a pretty good MLB career and is has his name in the Baseball Register for all time and accumulated 2.4 WAR during his career according to Baseball Reference. That’s pretty good. I’m sure that’s better than anyone posting crap or snide comments on this section will ever accomplish. Tony Barnette can walk away proud knowing he lived out a dream most of us will never know. I salute TONY BARNETTE!!!
Well said Dan, Great Job Tony!
Cooperstown will be calling, it’s only a matter of time.
Need 10 years of service time to be hall of fame eligible.
Poor attempt at humor
Get a clue, that clearly wasn’t a joke!
Wtf is this baseball news? 18-year vet retiring, I get. 4-year “vet” is a stretch.
You clicked and commented. Thus fueling the fire for future similar posts
Wow, you people are brutal.
Yeah, I’ve heard of Tony Clifton.
I thought it Said Tony Bennett retires. Had me worried for a moment!
Highly respected and admired during his years in Japan.
He was a reliever with the Rangers. Then Cubs. Ask your mom who he is. She knows.