The Diamondbacks are in agreement with catcher Tucker Barnhart on a minor league contract, reports Robert Murray of FanSided (X link). He’ll be in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Arizona adds a defense-first catcher to their Spring Training group. Barnhart won a pair of Gold Gloves during his eight-year run with the Reds. Statcast has still graded him as a slightly above-average pitch framer over the past two seasons, but those numbers are down from his 2019-21 peak. It’s a similar story from a throwing perspective. Barnhart threw out a middling seven of 37 basestealers in 312 2/3 innings with the Cubs.
With nearly a decade of MLB experience, the 32-year-old has a strong reputation for his work with a pitching staff. That has always been his selling point. Barnhart has never provided league average production at the dish. His offensive numbers have been particularly poor over the past two years. In 431 plate appearances since the start of 2022, the left-handed hitter owns a .215/.286/.264 line.
Last winter, the Cubs signed Barnhart to a two-year, $6.5MM guarantee. He appeared in only 47 games before being released. Chicago turned to 24-year-old Miguel Amaya to pair with veteran Yan Gomes in August. Barnhart caught on with the Dodgers on a non-roster deal for the stretch run. He appeared in seven Triple-A games and never received a big league call.
Chicago is still responsible for Barnhart’s $3.25MM salary for the 2024 season. If he cracks Arizona’s roster, the Snakes would only owe him the prorated portion of the $740K league minimum for whatever time he spends in the majors. He’d be an inexpensive veteran option to back up Gabriel Moreno, who has clearly established himself as the organization’s #1 catcher.
Aside from Moreno, José Herrera stands as the only catcher on the 40-man roster. Herrera is a .198/.272/.231 hitter in 88 MLB games over the past two seasons. That gives Barnhart a solid chance to make the club out of camp. Former Rays and Red Sox prospect Ronaldo Hernández will also be in Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.
How the worm has turned
First domino to fall in a late night hot stove run!
Put in the pizza rolls, daddy’s having a party!
LOL! Clip, I was about go get dinner started, but I am now saving my appetite! I see smoke, and KNOW that fire is coming!! Snell and Belli coming off the board tonight! Totino’s about to get stocked up!! WoooOooOooo!!!!
Probably both to the Dodgers too! Oh, man, Totinos is the jam…. I’m ‘bout to make a late-night run to the store and throw a couple, or forty, in the air fryer.
I wouldn’t allow them to get Snell. I would insist that they forward him to the Bronx. I am not that greedy Clip! 40 does sound like the proper #, but if you find yourself in the midst of a 60 pack, I expect you to not deprive yourself!
As the old commercial used to say, “you can’t have just forty.” Oh wait, maybe I’m off on that….
Trumbo, you’re a gentleman and a scholar; a true beacon of selfishness and sportsmanship. To give up Snell when the Dodgers have….we’ll, everyone else, is incredibly kind. I mean, who would want their team to be 162-0 anyway, right?
“To give up Snell when the Dodgers have…we’ll, everyone else, is incredibly kind.”
“I mean, who would want their team to be 162-0 anyway, right?”
LOL Oh man…Rolling over here, Clip! I can’t match or top that. I’ll let you continue steering the ship. I’ll be down in the XO’s quarters, pre-heating the oven and mixing up a trough of ranch.
Kind of digging the idea of pizza rolls now.
Yeah, I’m hungry..
Wait for the 3 am signing of Trevor Bauer later tonight!
Okay, that won’t be happening.
And it’s stupid that it’s not happening..
News! Sort of.
Alright RobM, who are the Yanks getting, buddy? Is Cashman done, or is he going to surprise with some decent pitching?
I don’t know who the Yankees are getting, but as a long-time watcher of Cashman, I suspect he’s working on something unexpected. By that, I mean it’s not signing a big-name starter like Snell, or trading the farm for Cease. It’ll be a trade for a pitcher not mentioned. Think of a James Taillon-style acquisition. I don’t mean Taillon today. I’m referring to when he acquired him prior. Someone like that. The Yankees generally spend big on top-tier pitchers, not middling ones. They are more likely to trade for a mid-range starter with at least a couple years of control, as they did with Taillon, but they won’t sign those types in free agency. Who that is today? I don’t know, but I think that’s their direction.
Rob, I have that same feeling, but I’m thinking of a Cashman special: a former top guy that has struggled and has recent injuries – Shane Bieber. I see that or an attempt at a super ‘pen with someone like Hicks. I think Hader is too pricey for his taste though. What are your thoughts on that?
I agree. I don’t see Hader because he’s going to want to get Diaz money and the Yankees have shown they can build bullpens, almost out of vapor, so adding a $100 million-plus closer doesn’t seem to fit their current style. Hader could turn into Chapman quickly with a tick loss in velocity. He also seems a bit temperamental. Hicks as a 7th- or 8th-inning guy, with some potential saves, seems more their style, price depending. Bieber would be a rental. Not out of the question since he’d cost less than Cease.
I do think this is going to simmer awhile, annoying Yankee fans. I’m sure they’re monitoring Monty’s market, and talking to a bunch of teams on trades, but there’s no incentive for those teams to move their pitchers until one or two more free agent starters sign. Imanaga is interesting, and I know they’ve scouted him, but I’m not sure how his stuff will play at Yankee Stadium. He’s a bit fly-ball and homer prone. His price will likely exceed $100 million, so I don’t see the Yankees playing in that market for him.
Yeah, forgot about Imanaga too, but I agree, I can’t see them cresting $100MM for him. He makes me nervous as well. If you consider NPB like AAA, Imanaga is giving up way too many HRs. Plus, transferring to MLB will only further exploit his low velo, imho. With the right pitch mix on the right team, I think he could be Cortez-like; I just don’t see the Yankees as that team.
Clip, not that Yanks business is any of mine..but if they can get Snell, I think they will bring the best out of him! He is riding high on his CY right now, and certainly is aware that a lot of people think he is some “Johnny Come Lately” who is too streaky and inconsistent. He will be gunning for it every start.
I think so Trumbo. He would want to prove his meddle in that beast of an ALE again. I think he ends up in the West coast though, my friend. But, like with most things, I’m probably wrong.
Good signing for the Snakes, if this was the 2017 version of Barnhart.
Still a good signing for the backup role.
Reds fan.. you won’t be disappointed, I mean.. who really wants to play in Chicago anyway?
Rooting for Tucker. Good dude.
good signing. very low cost risk. experienced , LH, … brings intangible value to D-Backs. Not earth shattering obviously but functional basic solid move.
Yes sir..
These are the moves that make Hazen the top GM. If he makes the team and he should if your only paying him 740k you got a solid defender and most likely the 2021 Tucker who will hit 240 with 5 to 7 hrs and give Moreno a much needed rest. Perfect! Genius Hazen again
Or cut him after spring training. Your pitchers just got an extra coach during an important learning period. And be out barely any money
You ever notice when you go look at a players stats on Baseball Reference, A lot of players I mean A L O T 2019 was a very good year,
Pretty good signing. He doesn’t hit a lot anymore but neither does Herrera. He also bats from the left side. Minimum cost is a solid plus.
Apparently Barnhart was the catcher who brought out the best in Eduardo Rodriguez in Detroit.
If Barnhart, in fact, makes Rodriguez a better pitcher in AZ, then this was a great pickup.
Great insight, thank you. I like Tucker..
Woooooooot. The mute button is working again. So many people have been muted now I can enjoy this site
Okay that was premature. For some reason some people can’t be muted
titanic, my insight came from someone else. This is from Jack Sommers over at FanNation, detailing how effectively Barnhart and Rodriguez worked together in Detroit.
“Rodriguez and Barnhart played together on the 2022 Tigers. Rodriguez made 17 starts in a season interrupted by personal issues. 14 of those starts came with Barnhart behind the plate, with the other three going to Eric Haase. The difference could not have been more stark.
Working with Barnhart, Rodriguez had a 3.65 ERA and a batting against slash line of .226/.305/.380, .685 OPS. In the three starts with Haase, he had a 5.82 ERA and a .329/.364/.493, .857 OPS batting against line. It’s possible that track record of success between Barnhart and Rodriguez is one factor that caused the D-backs to look into Barnhart.”
Really enjoyed having Tuck in Cincinnati. I’m sure he’s a great person to have in any organization. Wishing him all of the best.