The Rangers have signed catcher Tucker Barnhart to a minor league contract, FanSided’s Robert Murray reports. The deal includes an invitation to the Rangers’ big league Spring Training camp, and Barnhart will earn $1MM if he makes the Texas roster.
Barnhart is the second veteran catcher the Rangers have acquired in the last two weeks, after inking Kyle Higashioka to a two-year, $13.5MM deal. Jonah Heim is still the starting backstop in Arlington, but Heim’s struggles in 2024 left the Rangers looking for more depth, so Higashioka is expected to get more playing time than a normal backup. With these two locked into catching duties on the MLB roster, Barnhart and Sam Huff could be Triple-A depth unless an injury emerges.
A two-time Gold Glover from his days as the Reds’ starting catcher, Barnhart’s glovework helped paper over some only serviceable numbers at the plate. However, Barnhart’s once-modest offensive production has continued to sharply decline, while his glovework dropped to below-average in the view of Defensive Runs Saved (-2) and Statcast’s Catcher Runs metric (-3).
It should be noted that these numbers came in a limited sample size, as Barnhart appeared in only 31 big league games with the Diamondbacks last season. Even when starter Gabriel Moreno was injured, the D’Backs preferred Jose Herrera for a lot of playing time, and Barnhart was the one designated for assignment and ultimately released after Moreno returned from the injured list. Barnhart landed with his old team in Cincinnati on a minors deal in August, but his return to the Reds didn’t result in any MLB playing time.
Barnhart has a .241/.318/.351 slash line in 3088 plate appearances across 11 seasons with the Reds, Tigers, Cubs, and Diamondbacks. Presumably his contract includes the standard veteran opt-out clauses, so Barnhart could end up back on the open market again if he doesn’t see a clear path to playing time on the Rangers’ roster prior to Opening Day.
Good move out of them as he is a good receiver. Thought the Reds would sign him as backup but as usual sitting on their hands while reliable people go elsewhere.
That’s weird. He has no shot of making the team outside of an injury.
Why? There is no DH for the catcher.
I thought the Reds would sign him. They have almost no catching in the entire organization after Stephenson.
Truly the Jeff Mathis of our time.
thats austin hedges
Yeah, that’s fair.
This is Joc good buddy he wanted him in Texas first.
Sounds like a warm body to soak up some spring training innings…
Sam Huff should open a dispensary named Huff N Puff.
Is Sam Huff gonna get an actual shot or…
Doesn’t look like it. I guess the Rangers doubt both his offensive and defensive potential as they keep grabbing other catchers these past few years.
And yet the Blue Jays r seemingly happy to use Tyler Heineman as their primary catcher once Alejandro Kirk gets injured in the pre-season as he inevitably will…just another example of Atkins poor judgement!
Who cares. Another Austin hedges
Good on Tucker, he’s still hanging in there and has over 30 million in the bag from baseball earnings. If he’s still getting opportunities, get that bag!