The Rangers announced that infielder Jose Barrero was claimed off waivers from the Reds. Reporter Francys Romero (X link) revealed earlier today that Barrero was heading to Texas, though Romero indicated that the transaction was a trade rather than a waiver claim. In a corresponding move, Texas placed right-hander Carson Coleman on the 60-day injured list, as Coleman will be out until at least midseason recovering from Tommy John surgery.
It wasn’t long ago that Barrero was seen as a building block prospect, with Baseball America ranking him as the 33rd-best minor leaguer in the sport prior to the 2022 season. However, Barrero struggled badly at the plate in both Triple-A and in the big leagues in 2022, even though he got back on track in the minors with a nice .258/.333/.540 slash line with Triple-A Louisville in 2023. Barrero is now out of minor league options, and since several other Reds infielders have now passed him on the depth chart, Cincinnati apparently viewed the 25-year-old as expendable.
Barrero has hit only .186/.242/.255 over 447 career plate appearances in the majors, and it remains to be seen if he can produce even passable numbers against big league pitching. Still, it wouldn’t be the first time that a post-hype prospect has become a late bloomer after a move to a new organization, and Barrero’s Triple-A numbers indicate that he hasn’t entirely lost his batting eye.
Even beyond the hitting contributions, Barrero also offers good speed (69 steals in 87 attempts during his minor league career) and quality defense at multiple positions. Barrero has mostly played shortstop during his pro career, but has also gotten some action as a second baseman and even in center field, as the Reds looked for creative ways to find playing time for their many infielders.
Barrero’s versatility is a benefit to a Rangers team that has some early questions within their infield. First baseman Nathaniel Lowe is battling an oblique strain and might need to start the season on the 10-day injured list. Josh Jung was sidelined with a minor calf strain three weeks ago and is showing improvement, though isn’t yet back to full baseball activity. The duo of Ezequiel Duran and Josh H. Smith can cover third base if Jung needs to miss any regular-season time, though Duran might be needed at first base in Lowe’s absence, Barrero can help pick up the slack.
Matt Duffy and Jared Walsh are also in camp on minor league deals and top prospect Justin Foscue seems ready for his MLB debut, though Barrero’s presence now gives the Rangers more depth to work with as Opening Day approaches. Since Barrero is out of options, Texas would have to either carry him on the 26-man roster or expose him to waivers in order to send him back down to Triple-A, and this status could make it a little tricky for Barrero to break camp with the team depending on how the Rangers want to line up their roster.
Tragic. Now the Reds only have 10 shortstops!
be fun to see a scrimmage between the Reds and Orioles where they can only use infielders to fill the lineup.
We get winners!
Does anyone want a slightly used JD Martinez??
I could use a butler at my house.
Now that you mention it, one of my cats needs a butler. I’ll offer JDM 2 years at $15M per with an opt out after 2024. More than fair.
Can you imagine how irritated your cat will be when JD is busy looking at his iPad pouring over the footage of his laser pointer technique earlier in the day to improve his form instead of cleaning the litter box?
For many a player “out of options” equals out of opportunities.
I guess he goes to AAA because I don’t see any spot for him at the major league level.
He’s out of options. It’s why the Reds traded him.
he is out of options so he would have to clear waivers to go to AAA, right?
With the option to select assignment or sign with another team i think ?
In a trade for what? APTBNL? cash? I await the more to come.
Little and less to be sure
So they lose other young players because they wouldn’t DFA him all offseason despite knowing he would never make the roster. Now they basically do anyway.
More evidence there is no real organizational plan.
Aside from collecting infielders, and this move flies in the face of that alleged plan.
There was no reason to DFA him before spring. They probably have been trying to trade him, and got no action. After all 28 other teams passed on him for free.
Tell me you don’t follow the Reds or understand baseball in two short paragraphs.
No one can ever predict future performance, or injuries. Who makes the roster can never be truly known. All that changed was the order that players were removed from the roster. As he would have been claimed, they were justified in not moving him earlier.
This is the downside to having a talented young 40 man roster. No place for Senzel, Barerro, etc.. It appears Jose wasn’t going to make the OD roster on merit- probably best for everyone on the Reds that he’s gone. Opens up a roster spot and we’ll just have to see what Krall does with that.
Snell!
You really believe that? Josh Harrison will now probably make the team and play in 100 games. No “talented 40 man roster” has that happen.
You have (maybe) one outfielder who doesnt need to be platooned because the manager obsesses over right righty matchups. You invest alot of time and resources on Berrero, and he was actually raking this spring with one report saying his plate discipline looks much improved.
This is just another example of how player development is non existent in this organization. Even losing 100 games in 2022 the manager routinely started Kevin Newman over Berrero and he never got the opportunities. Never got 500 big league at bats. Oh yea, you gave him 5 million as a teenager. Wasted money. Horrible.
Newman wasn’t on the team when the Reds lost 100 games
I was shocked he made it that far on the waiver claim…until I read the last line lol
The guy has enviable tools and power to spare, maybe just needs a change of scenery? Best of luck to him!
Keep on moving!
Yay look at us go. Who needs a starter when you can get this scrub right guys