The Diamondbacks have made two minor league signings, adding catcher Tucker Barnhart and left-hander Logan Allen on minor league deals with an invite to big league Spring Training. The signings were announced by the Reno Aces, the D-backs Triple-A affiliate, but have not appeared on the transaction page for either team at the time of this writing.
Barnhart, 32, is coming off a miserable season in 2023 in which he posted a .202/.285/.257 slash with the Chicago Cubs in 43 games. He lost his backup job to youngster Miguel Amaya before getting released in August, then signing with the Dodgers. Barnhart did not appear in a game with Los Angeles after hitting just .227 with their Triple-A affiliate. Last month he was linked to the D-backs, as they look to solidify their catching depth behind Gabriel Moreno. He'll compete with José Herrera and Adrian Del Castillo for the top backup job. Should Barnhart make the roster he would reunite with left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, who he caught for 14 starts in 2022.
Allen, 26, was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2015 and was traded to the Padres the next winter. After debuting with San Diego in 2019, he was traded to Cleveland in a three-team deal at the deadline. In Cleveland, Allen struggled for three years with a 5.45 ERA in 22 appearances (11 starts) before getting designated for assignment and claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on waivers. He has not appeared in a major league game since, seeing time with the Triple-A affiliates for the Rockies and Mariners in 2023. After spending time as both a reliever and a starter, it's unclear what role the organization has in mind for the left-hander.
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