Austin Barnes was drafted by the Marlins in the 9th round of the 2011 amateur draft. In December of 2014, Austin was acquired by Andrew Friedman in one of his first trades with the Dodgers. He was a key piece in the Dee Gordon trade wherein the Dodgers traded Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas, and cash for Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney, Kike Hernandez, and Austin Barnes. Austin Barnes might have been the best player acquired in that trade based on longevity as a foundational piece of the team. It is unusual to say that a backup catcher is a “foundational piece” for a team, but he has always been ready to play, having only a couple of IL bouts.
2022 is Austin Barnes’ 8th season with the Dodgers, and it could be his last, as he will be a free agent after the season is over. He has been a backup catcher all of his career… and a damn good one! He has been Clayton Kershaw’s catcher of choice for quite some time, and his catching prowess is appreciated by just about every pitcher on the Dodger’s staff. Austin Barnes is arguably the best backup catcher in baseball… to say nothing of being one of the best teammates ever.
He deserves to be there because he is very good at what he does. He is a backup catcher who calls a great game, blocks pitches in the dirt, has good speed, and is a good baserunner. He has surprising power, is a good pinch-hitter, and is just a freaking all-around good teammate. He has also played 2B 56 times and 3B a handful of times. He’s no All-Star, but he won’t embarrass anyone.
Did I mention that he will be 33 next year? Austin has made about $7.5 Million in his career. What if Steve Cohen (the Mets could use an Austin Barnes) offered Austin a $20 Million 2 year deal? That is triple what he has made in his entire career, and his career is winding down. He needs to make hay while the sun is shining. I am not sure he could be a starter because he is not big, but he really is not much smaller than Will Smith. Will Smith is, however, a very, very strong man.
Of course, Andrew Friedman could also justify a contract like that with Barnesie. Keep him as the backup catcher and team leader. He understands what it means to be a Dodger. On the other hand, the Dodgers farm system is loaded with catchers. Let’s look at who the prospects are in the pipeline:
- Diego Cartaya – (6′ 3″/220 RH Hitter – age 20) The pride of the farm system, Diego has a shot at being one of those guys who come up every 10 to 20 years, but he has to deliver on that promise and keep growing. He projects as a generational All-Star. He’s at least two years away, but Will Smith is not a free agent until 2026.
- Hunter Feduccia – (6’2″/215 LH Hitter – Age 24). Next to Cartaya, I like Feduccia the best; the fact that he is a LH Hitter should be a plus if your starting catcher is RH. Hunter has good-bat-to-ball skills and is now showing more power. His defense is solid, and his arm is above average. This year in 73 ABs he is hitting .274 with a .978 OPS and has 7 HR (one every 10 ABs) at Tulsa. He could be ready for a backup role in 2023, but most likely in 2024. He has a shot at being a starter… but not with the Dodgers.
- Carson Taylor – (6′ 2″/205 Switch Hitter – Age 22). Two years younger than Feduccia, he is regarded as a “hit first” catcher. He is a line-drive hitter, and the Dodgers are “re-tooling” his swing as they did with Will Smith and Jacob Amaya. He’s not particularly agile behind the plate and will likely develop more power as he matures. He has played 1B in the past and could also play there in the future.
- Chris Betts – (6′ 2″/215 LH Hitter – Age 25). Mookies’ younger brother – just kidding! He has the tools to be a backup catcher but is below average defensively and his hit tool can’t carry him all the way. He is a long shot.
- Yeiner Fernandez – (5′ 9″/170 RH Hitter – Age 20). You have to be able to project this guy as he is likely four years away, but I do not see him as any more than a backup. Of course, that is what Austin Barnes is.
- Jesus Galtz – (6′ 0″/185 RH Hotter – Age 19) – He was the Top Ranked International Catching Prospect. He is very athletic and agile with great hands and a good-to-great arm. He could be a starter but is likely 3 or 4 years away.
The Dodgers also have Tomas Telis (a 30-year-old Switch hitter) and 29-year-old Tony Wolters (LH Hitter), who are the emergency catchers. They will likely move on next year but are insurance if Smith or Barnes go down.
So, the question is: What do the Dodgers do with Austin Barnes in 2023… and beyond? Do they take care of him or let him walk to a better contract? Here’s your chance to weigh in.
Dodger Rants & Raves
- Gavin Lux has not displayed any more evidence of the “yips” and is starting to look like he belongs at 2B. His hitting is ticking up, and he is gaining confidence, but I do not this he will EVER be the Dodger’s SS. Jacob Amaya is light years ahead defensively and has the baseball IQ and innate leadership that is off the charts. The Dodgers have re-tooled Amaya’s swing, much like they did Will Smith, and he has become a beast. Amaya and Lux could make a great keystone combination for years to come.
- Chris Taylor is looking lost about now. Could it be that he is best as a backup? A Swiss Army Knife? Kike is hitting .188 for the Red Sox… Maybe they are the same guy.
- Max Muncy needs to move to lower in the order until he fixes whatever needs to be fixed. His .336 OB% is not horrible, but a move down to #7 or #8 might help.
- Mookie Betts is breaking out! We know he is healthy and capable of carrying this team. Sometimes Funks Happen.
- The Dodgers’ Bullpen is #3 in MLB, and their pitching overall is #1 in Team ERA.
- Keibert Ruiz is starting to show his potential as he sits at .292 BA/.357 OB% and a .746 OPS. His power will come in another year. He strikes out just 11% of the time.
- The Dodgers have nothing to lose in picking up Pedro Baez. Hopefully, it is a mechanical issue, not an arm issue that has taken 5-6 MPH off his fastball. They know him; he knows them. No risk here.
Dodger Minor League Highlights & Lowlights
- Michael Grove and Bobby Miller started last night for OKC and Tulsa, respectively. Grove went 4.1 innings, allowed 4 hits and 2 ER, striking out 3 while walking 5. Duplantier, Moronta, Cleavinger, and Fulmer all pitched scoreless innings afterward. Carson Fulmer got his 3rd Save.
- Miguel Vargas was 24 (.306/.909 OPS)
- Ryan Pepiot is scheduled to start today for OKC.
- Hunter Feduccia hit his 7th HR and drove in three runs for Tulsa.
- Bobby Miller went 4 innings, allowed 4 hits, 4 runs, and walked 3 while striking out 6.
- Leasure, Zuniga, and Washington all pitched scoreless innings. Washington got his 4th save.
- Nick Nastrini went 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 rin, 1 BB, and struck out 7, surpassing both Miller and Grove last night.
- Maddux Bruns was soundly spanked with RC last night (3.2 IP/3 H/4 R/2 BB/2 K (4.82 ERA).
- They walked Diego Cartaya twice last night as he was 0-1 (.938 OPS).
Miller 86 pitches 48 strikes to get 12 outs and give up 4 earned. Yoiks. Grove a little better, 87 pitches 53 strikes to get 13 outs. 5 walks but only 2 earned. Throw strikes dammit.
Barnes? He stays right where he is until Cartaya is called up. No rush on that.
Gonsolin. 5 innings maybe?
If Mookie plays like that he is a top 3 player in MLB. Obituaries about his demise were premature.
I am so glad Friedmann swung that deal.
Muncy, JT and Belli still mired in a season long funk thoug JT showing signs of life in that bat.
But overall it is amazing the Dodgers are putting up so many runs without 3 key players anywhere near their career marks.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last 7 Games…
JT .231/.310/.500/.810
Belli .292/.393.458/.851
Muncy .217/.308/.261/.569
Barnes and Smith both have 4 homers. Probably one of the few times they will be tied, The Catman cometh. I predict a win. 8 in a row,
CT3 is getting a much needed day off today to help him reset. Yes, he’s a swiss army knife, not a starting left fielder. Muncy and Rios should be trying out some outfielder’s gloves to see how they fit.
Give Barnes a fair offer and see if he wants to stay. I don’t break the bank on a backup catcher. The simple solution is to play Smith more.
It’s not the yips if he goes three weeks without making a bad throw. Amaya won’t be ready to take over next year, might as well let Lux have a shot at it while Busch takes over at 2B. If Amaya can duplicate what he’s doing after a mid-season promotion to AAA, we can re-evaluate.
How many people here thought “hip” when Mookie tripped on second base? I know I did.
Ruiz was hitting around 250 a couple of weeks ago. He’ll be a solidly unspectacular catcher.
I have mixed feelings about Petey, aka Dumpster Fire. Why bother when you just cut Shane Greene?
Will Diego still be in Rancho by the time you arrive at the ballpark? Dude is getting the Barry Bonds treatment in low A.
Baez = no risk acquisition. No roster manipulation required. If the Dodgers can fix him it’s a good pickup. If they can’t no long term plans are impacted.
Baez = Mediocre pitcher that choked in playoff games his entire career. What’s to fix?
If nothing else depth. Fix him he can help LA or becomes trade bait. 5 strikeouts, 1 run in 3 innings against Atl in 2020 is not choking. Not so good against TB.
Like I said no risk acquisition.
Baez career 3.08 ERA, 1.1 WHP, 9.3K/9, 130 ERA+. Hardly mediocre. He’s only 34. We could always use more pitching. So, why not?
and……. SLOW
Baez will have to deal with a pitch clock. That could get interesting.
The Catman will give us 6+ for a win.
Lineup (in honor of AVF):
1. Betts RF
2. Freeman 1B
3. T-Turner SS
4. Rios DH
5. Muncy 2B
6. J-Turner 3B
7. Bellinger CF
8. Lux LF
9. Barnsie C
Catman Do – P
Can you ask Doc why Muncy is hitting in front of JT? Asking for a friend. 😉
Would you really want Bellinger following Muncy the way the two of them are hitting?
I would bat both Muncy and Bellinger 9th.
There’s more options than just that.
BTW – There’s literally 8 hitters in the lineup that are hitting better than Muncy, who’s batting right in the middle of it.
BTW – There’s literally 8 hitters in the lineup that are hitting better than Muncy, who’s batting right in the middle of it.
Seattle is desperate for a REAL catcher!
All Ed Rios does is hit. He should bat against every RHP and some lefties.
I’m wondering what Rios would look like if they put him in the lineup every day and left him there.
He’d look a lot better offensively than any other lefty we have but Freddie! And thanks for asking about Muncy for me!
I have always been high on Gonsolin. Because his career OPS against has been low. His ERA this year is currently sitting at 1.50
It’s nice to see him start to really put it together. Is this the first game that he’s averaged 15 pitchers per inning through 4? It sure seems like.
Without the arm problems and throwing too many pitches, he’s a very solid number 3. I’d rather have him than Woody, that’s for sure. His K/BB ratio is still nowhere close to where you want it to be.
I completely concur on Barnes. I definitely get a David Ross vibe from his career path. Ross only had 300 ABs once in his career, and was a better overall hitter than Barnes (IMHO) but never had the catching skills of Barnes . Ross had a very long career. He became the team leader on the WS championship team full of uber talented young egos in Chicago and seamlessly transitioned into coaching and managing. I think there is a good chance Austin makes a similar move. He is a great backup with many intangibles. I’d love to see him stay with the Dodgers but If he’s smart he makes a similar choice as Ross. Join an organization that will value his leadership and experience and (if he has such ambitions) will offer him a future with the team in the dugout after he hanged up the mask. Dodgers are probably not the org that will offer him that.
And as Mark and others have said, Diego isn’t seeing pitches. I was talking to a buddy who goes to most Rancho home games and he used a term I haven’t heard in years. He said “He’s a man among boys in the CA league.” The last time I heard that term used it was for a young kid named Julio Urias. But as a pitcher, hitters can’t avoid facing you. Pitchers can avoid pitching to you. But my buddy said Diego is already great at destroying mistakes. And that’s all he’s feasting on these days. Nobody is challenging him. He’s not seeing many fastballs unless he has 3 ball in the count.
I’m hoping to see Diego one more time before the Dodgers move him up. But his promotion is eminent.
I will add; having met Diego in person he certainly looks like a man among boys. He has a physical presence you don’t see often in low A. And he simply oozes with confidence. He also seems like a very nice guy. Took a few minutes to talk to my son a few weeks ago before a game (it was his day off and he wasn’t participating in much of the warmups). I can see why scouts are so high on the guy.
Catman #5 my foot! When he’s throwing his fastball on the edges he’s the Aceman!
Pitching like one so far.
On a side note:
One of my son’s favorite players from Rancho seems to be enjoying himself in Korea. Started off slow but has been raking in recent weeks.
DJ Peters has his own K Pop song, apparently.
https://youtu.be/djLGGTHTyrM
Such a nice guy and a hard worker. I hope he gets another shot at the Majors.
I’m hoping to see Diego before he gets promoted. Planning on going to the game that Mark’s going to.
My son and I will be there too.
DJ is awesome. I also hope he gets another shot. I think he made the right choice, for now. We got to know him when he was in Rancho. He contacted me after the season in 2020 and offered my son batting lessons. He was raising money for his honeymoon over New Years by giving kids lessons. And was charging way too little (few times have I told people to change me more). Life in the minors, I suppose. He signed a good contract to play in the KBO. Worst case he sets his family up for life playing in the KBO. Best case he gets another shot in the MLB. If he keeps making plays like this he will get a shot. The dude is 6 foot 7 in CF! KBO media has nicknamed him “Superman”.
https://youtu.be/0ZPW_4T0RGk
Boy Muncy is making Bellinger look good! And he’s not irreplaceable defensively!
At his current rate, if extrapolated to a full season, Rios would break Barry Bond’s single season home run record.
Pretty impressive for a guy who sits in favor of Muncy
I’ve been on the “let Max work through this” camp. But I’m at the point where I’m starting to agree. Something is wrong. Injury, mental.. something. Rios has earned more playing time. That said, 1 walk and 18 strikeouts is likely why he’s not getting more opportunities. Muncy has been basically good for nothing but walks, this far. If only they could mind meld the two.
Don’t get excited Rios, no matter what you do today, tomorrow there will be Taylor and Muncy in the lineup, and you will be on the bench again!
… until they don’t!
Real nice job by Alex Vesia.
Take a seat Max!
Yep. Max has earned a seat on the bench.
Intentionally walk a .203 to get to a .290 hitter who is lifetime .300. Come on Robert’s wake up!!
Who is Yency Almonte? … and why is a guy who had a 7 ERA last year in a high leverage closing situation?
For the same reason JBruhil was the setup guy today.
The Dodgers have liked him for a couple of years now. He has a high 90’s fastball and biting slider. He is the real deal—another great bullpen piece. He had two good years in Colorado and two bad years.
SWING THE BAT MUNCY!!!!!! He just takes way too many mid mid strike one and two’s! He is just in an awful place right now and costing us a lot of runs! Tho Patch I like Almonte’s stuff. I think he has potential. Don’t think Kimbrel going 3 in a row
Come. On. Roberts!
Top of the 10th. First and second, no outs.
You gotta have Freeman bunt right?
JOKING
Muncy looks like he swings pain free. It can’t get any bigger.
I think AJ Ellis was calling games based on his research and got traded for it. Barnes is probably in concert with coaches and front office and has a better chance of staying with Dodgers. Money will talk though next year.
Poor Muncy!
That was about as bad and ugly as it can get!
Don’t worry Muncy, you’re guaranteed to keep playing, no matter how good numbers Rios has, he won’t play for you… Don’t worry, you can keep playing shit.
Don’t worry either Roberts, you are the best manager, you have the best record leading the Dodgers… Keep it up!
Right about now – everything Max does is wrong!
It’s time to sit him. He’s embarrassing himself.
Good lord. Bloody hell. Jesus H Christ.
And other such blasphemy.
I need a drink.
Well the good thing is, that was pure rock bottom for Muncy.
So now there’s no where to go but up! We’ll need him in the 2nd half, so he has time to wake up.
There’s not all that much time, San Diego stepping up to 1/2 game back.
Start the Michael Busch experiment NOW please. Muncy is the Oakland A’s Muncy that got him DFA’d.
How long is Muncy gonna stay off track? He seems to be a whole different player and if it keeps up there’s not much that’s gonna keep him a regular.
I thought Doc bring Alberto when the bases were loaded trying to get another run with a sac fly.
We all know Roberts, he will say that he will keep usingto Muncy to give him confidence, to give him the opportunity to get out of the slump, to not change the winning lineup, that the same thing happened with Bellinger, and that thanks to having patience and trust, now he’s already playing better…. What can be said about it? How to debate that? So almost certainly we will keep seeing Muncy and Taylor on the field and the same lineup
I feel bad for Max. The look on his face told it all.
At this point I’d rather see a Rios/Vargas platoon at DH with the occasional Smith and JT.
I’ve always loved Max. I’m 46 and fat. And I could have made that play with ankle weights on. Whatever is going on, it needs to be fixed without him in the lineup.
Camels back + straw
At least for me.
By modern standards, Barnes has been underpaid.
To me, he’s been more than just a backup catcher or ace’s caddy–more than, say, an AJ Ellis. (Where is AJ now? Seemed destined for broadcasting.) A few years back, Dodgers played him ahead of Grandal in the post-season. My impression was that the brass decided against keeping Grandal because they figured Barnes could start. He’s been an excellent receiver and a streaky hitter.
When Smith came up, I figured that he’d be Barnes’s backup but he delivered more offense than initially expected. (Right now, Barnes is third on the team in OPS and Smith is fifth, with Freeman between them. The catcher’s position has been very productive on offense. An excellent tandem.)
I hope Barnes gets paid his due, and I hope the Dodgers keep him for at least couple of seasons. If AF doesn’t show the love, he should test the market. I’d love to see Cartaya swiftly blossom but he may not be ready until 2025.
BTW, history suggests that catchers need not be the size of linebackers to succeed. Smith and Barnes might be a bit smaller than the modern prototype–but then neither were Campanella and Berra.
Just got home from the Communion and party afterwards and saw the last two innings. We were one strike away from winning it twice in the last two innings. Muncy looks completely lost at the plate and lets center cut fastballs go by for a strike with out swinging. He is looking to walk. Not the same player he was the previous three years. Either he is still hurt from last year or this is the best we can expect. Need to sit him down for awhile and he should start working with Freddie Freeman. He is a rally killer in the lineup. He can feel bad about today but he lost us a freakin winnable game.
Call the waaaaaahmbulance!
Kershaw’s always hurt.
Bauer hasn’t been treated fair.
Betts’ contract will be an albatross.
Buehler’s heater is toast.
Chris Taylor isn’t an everyday player.
Lux has the yips.
Trae turner should be traded.
Robert’s can’t manage.
Bellinger should be optioned.
Best team in the MLB, IMO.
Best team in the NL and 2nd best in MLB by record.
Not so much trade Trea and more about seeking a player that might help more, assuming Lux can do well at SS.
Better to have traded Muncy a year too early than a year too late?
Lots of presumptions.
When is a year too late with Muncy? What could you get for him?
Where do you find a player who can help more than Turner?
Lux can do as well as Turner?
Let those who get paid to make these decisions, make them.
Just enjoy the great team.
A year too early would have been at the end of 2020 and a year too late would have been at the end of 2021.
I think you’re finally getting the hang of this Dodger blog thing.
However, you did fail to mention the shoddy state of the Dodgers starting pitching corps and how trading for some career mediocrity is imperative because of … reasons.
Half the people in the world are below average intelligence
If you encounter 9 below average people on a row, what are the odds the 10th is above average intelligence?
Don’t worry. Your answer doesn’t determine your grouping. .maybe.
If you took a statistics class, you would know that the odds are the same as the first 9.
You are talking median. Not average.
“If you took a statistics class, you would know that the odds are the same as the first 9.”
Stop with your Monte Carlo Fallacy bullshit. Everyone knows you can’t have 10 dumb people in a row.
Unless it’s rural Florida
It sounds like that is the case–rural Florida that is.
5 out of 4 people struggle with math!
Right on, Brother. Right on!
Looking at stats I noticed that Graterol and Bickford still haven’t figured out how to get left handed batters out. They are still ROOGYS. And with the three batter minimum rule it’s dangerous to use them.
Don’t forget about betts mistake on the throw to third. If he kept the runner at first we might still be playing despite the error
He’s been playing so great I have to overlook that one.
Good catch Campy.
I am not sure it was a mistake. He missed him by “that” much.
If Muncy stays in lineup, it should be at 3rd instead of moving him around.
Bring up Pillar to rest Taylor and keep Lux at second.
Dodgers Extend Blake Treinen
By Mark Polishuk | May 22, 2022 at 5:32pm CDT
5:32PM: The 2024 option could be worth between $1MM and $7MM based on Treinen’s health and other factors, Ardaya tweets. According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter links), the option price will depend on what specific kinds of injuries Treinen may or may not miss time with over the course of the next two seasons.
This uncertain health situation factored into Treinen’s decision to agree to the extension, Harris writes, as Treinen’s return in 2022 isn’t a lock. A source tells Harris that there is a “decent” chance Treinen pitches again this season, while another source tells Ardaya that Trienen has a “very possible” chance.
4:58PM: Treinen will earn $8MM in 2023, as The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reports that the extension will guarantee the club option. The deal also gives the Dodgers a conditional option over Treinen for 2024.
Manager Dave Roberts recently said that Treinen wasn’t expected back until around the All-Star break, and the club moved Treinen to the 60-day IL earlier this week. With this injured status in mind, the timing of the extension is perhaps a little curious, though it could also be interpreted as a positive sign about the Dodgers’ confidence in the right-hander’s longer-term health.
Treinen is a little over a month away from his 34th birthday, and he is in his ninth season of MLB action, with stops in Washington and Oakland before his arrival in Los Angeles. The 2018 season saw Treinen finish sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting due to a superb season as the Athletics’ closer, but for much of his career, Treinen has worked in a set-up capacity. With Craig Kimbrel handling the ninth inning for the Dodgers, Treinen is expected to resume his usual set-up role when he does return to action.
I hope he makes it back. Daniel Hudson still hit 98 MPH, and he is older than Treinen.
They struck out 14 times, Muncy struck out with the bases loaded and one out in the 10th. He is effectively a rally killer at this point. But you K 14 times, you do not deserve to win. They had their chances and did not take advantage. Two long balls and the free runner in the 10th. That is not what the so called best lineup in Dodger history should be doing. Pitiful loss.
Can’t argue.