Former Dodgers World Series Champion Lands a Deal With Divisional Rival on Sunday

Los Angeles called up 2022 second-round pick Dalton Rushing earlier this season, showing that manager Dave Roberts was in pursuit of a different option at the catching position. 

All-Star Will Smith has a secure position on the roster with his $140 million contract, so Austin Barnes, who was the guy on the hot seat, was let go to make Rushing the replacement for a struggling Barnes moving forward.

Austin Barnes would then take on free agency, and after over a month of searching for a new team to land on, it's been announced that the two-time World Series champion signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night.

After serving his entire 11-year career with the Dodgers, Barnes will continue his baseball journey with Los Angeles' division rival.

Although Barnes sigend a minor league deal, he wil start with the Giants' Arizona Complex League team to get back into playing shape. He will likely be inserted into the Giants' 40-man roster sometime this season and provide depth for them in a struggling catcher position.

The two catchers the Giants have on roster, Patrick Bailey and Andrew Knizner, have both been struggling to find a groove this 2025 season.

Bailey currently has a .194 BA and Knizner has a .103 BA, so Austin Barnes will likely have a chance at appearing on the 40-man roster sometime within the season.

In the 42 at-bats Barnes appeared in for the Dodgers this season, he posted a .214 BA, .233 OBP, .286 SLG, and a .518 OPS while hitting two RBI.