After his long tenure with the Dodgers came to an end May 20, Barnes caught on with the Giants on a minor-league deal about a month later. The 35-year-old backstop debuted for Triple-A Sacramento shortly before the All-Star break but didn't gain much momentum in his bid for a promotion to the big leagues, slashing just .212/.297/.212 over 10 games before the Giants cut him loose. Barnes may look to catch on with another organization before the end of the season, though retirement may also be a possibility at this point.
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Giants' Austin Barnes: Inks minors deal
Rotowire
The Giants signed Barnes to a minor-league contract Sunday, Jeff Young of FanSided reports.
The Dodgers released Barnes last month after he slashed .214/.233/.286 with three extra-base hits, two RBI and four runs scored across 44 plate appearances. Barnes will serve as organizational depth behind Patrick Bailey and Andrew Knizner.
Barnes is now a free agent after passing through waivers unclaimed. The veteran catcher should be able to land a deal with a new team in short order, although he might have to go to the minor leagues first.
The Dodgers designated Barnes for assignment Wednesday.
Barnes will cede his spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster to Dalton Rushing, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 35-year-old has played sparingly this season and slashed only .214/.233/.286 in 13 contests. He had been the Dodgers' longest-tenured position player.
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Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Set to lose 40-man roster spot
Rotowire
The Dodgers are expected to designate Barnes for assignment Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Barnes had been the team's longest-tenured position player but will lose his 40-man roster spot with the Dodgers set to promote prospect Dalton Rushing from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 35-year-old Barnes is making $3.5 million this season and is slashing only .214/.233/.286 in 13 contests.
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Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Racks up three hits Wednesday
Rotowire
Barnes went 3-for-5 with a run in a 12-7 win against Miami on Wednesday.
Barnes got the start at catcher for the resting Will Smith and finished as one of six Dodgers with multiple hits in the offensive onslaught. Barnes has gotten just 33 plate appearances this season as Smith has dominated work behind the plate, so the former's three-hit effort perked his season batting average up from .185 to .250. It would likely take Smith missing time for Barnes to have any fantasy value in all but the deepest of formats.
Barnes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.
Barnes will head back to the bench after he made his third start of the season in Tuesday's 8-2 loss, going hitless with two strikeouts in four at-bats. The veteran backstop is unlikely to play more than once or twice a week throughout the season if top catcher Will Smith maintains health.
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Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Brought back for 2025
Rotowire
The Dodgers exercised Barnes' $3.5 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Barnes slashed .264/.331/.307 with 11 RBI across 156 plate appearances in 2024 -- good enough for the Dodgers to keep him around as the backup catcher behind Will Smith. While Barnes is likely to break spring training as Los Angeles' reserve backstop, a drop in production from the 34-year-old could eventually result in prospects Dalton Rushing or Hunter Feduccia taking his spot on the roster.
Barnes went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rockies.
Barnes went 2-for-6 with a walk over two games after he was activated from the injured list Friday. The catcher ends the regular season with a .264/.331/.307 slash line, one home run, three steals, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored over 156 plate appearances this year. He is likely to continue operating in a reserve role behind Will Smith in the postseason.
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Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Activated from IL
Rotowire
The Dodgers activated Barnes (toe) from the 10-day injured list Thursday, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.
Barnes fractured his left big toe Sept. 15 after fracturing the same toe in August. However, the fractures occurred in different spots of the toe. With Barnes returning from injury, Hunter Feduccia was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Placed on IL with fractured toe
Rotowire
The Dodgers placed Barnes on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a fractured left big toe.
The fracture is to the same toe that Barnes previously fractured in August. While he spent the minimum 10 days on the IL in his first stint, the expectation this time around is that Barnes will be sidelined until the postseason, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Hunter Feduccia was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill in for Barnes as the Dodgers' backup catcher behind Will Smith.
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Dodgers' Austin Barnes: X-rays show new fracture in toe
Rotowire
Barnes said Monday that X-rays showed a fracture in his left big toe in a different spot than his previous fracture, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Barnes missed the minimum amount of time when he was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 19 with the same injury. The 34-year-old catcher is expected to go on the IL again, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, but it's unclear whether Barnes will miss more than the minimum 10 days this time around.
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