Free agent relief pitcher Matt Barnes is making progress towards a deal with the Washington Nationals, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reported Monday.
Barnes spent 2023 with the Miami Marlins, who ultimately declined his $9 million club option in November. Barnes did not take the mound after June 1, as he underwent serious hip surgery in July.
Back in January, reports surfaced that Barnes was set to throw in front of MLB teams. Barnes earned solid feedback from the session, considering he was still nine months removed from said surgery.
This is Barnes' first time as a free agent.
The Boston Red Sox selected Barnes in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. After working his way through their farm system as a top prospect, Barnes made his big league debut in 2014 and grew into a more regular role by 2016.
Barnes became an innings-eating late reliever for Boston, helping them win the World Series in 2018. He eventually became a closer in 2021, earning his first All-Star appearance in the process.
That summer, the Red Sox awarded Barnes with a two-year, $18.75 million contract extension. His production almost immediately dropped off, and he was designated for assignment after a shaky 2022 campaign.
The Marlins swooped in to trade for Barnes last winter, and he was largely effective in his first two months with the club. He owned a 3.43 ERA through May 28, and that figure would have dropped to 1.80 if it weren't for one rough outing on April 27.
Barnes got rung up for five earned runs on June 1, though, and his season wound up ending there. He finished the year 1-0 with a 5.48 ERA, 1.641 WHIP and -0.1 WAR.
For his career, Barnes is 33-30 with a 4.13 ERA, 1.355 WHIP, 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a 4.3 WAR.
Health permitting, the 33-year-old right-hander would be a welcome addition to a Washington bullpen that ranked 27th in baseball with a 5.02 ERA in 2023. Dylan Floro – one of Barnes' former Marlins teammates who finished last year with the Minnesota Twins – is the lone reliever the Nationals have added via free agency or trade this offseason.
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