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Veteran Catcher Austin Barnes Released by Giants’ Triple-A Club

The 36-year-old glove-first backstop will enter free agency aiming to turn his reputation for handling elite pitchers into another late-season opportunity.

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Feb 12, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) catches during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images/File Photo

Overview

  • The San Francisco organization cut ties with Barnes on August 4, making him a free agent after his minor-league stint.
  • He logged 46 plate appearances for Triple-A Sacramento, posting a .205/.326/.205 slash line.
  • Earlier this season with the Dodgers, Barnes appeared in 13 games and hit .214/.233/.286 over 44 plate appearances.
  • His bat has lagged since 2022, reflected in a 57 wRC+ across his last 400 major-league plate appearances.
  • Teams value his defensive acumen, game-calling skills and experience working with pitchers like Clayton Kershaw.