It sounds like a new home is on the horizon for a former Boston Red Sox pitcher.
There are still some good free agents available, and former Red Sox All-Star Matt Barnes is one player who is still searching for his next big chance. Despite battling injuries over the past two seasons, the seasoned reliever is still available.
However, it doesn’t seem like it will last for very long. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Barnes has allegedly made “good progress” on a potential agreement with the Washington Nationals.
“Former Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes has made good progress on a deal with the Nationals, source confirms,” Cotillo said. “Not quite all done yet. Assuming that a Matt Barnes-Nationals deal comes to fruition, it would likely be a minor league deal.”
If Barnes is healthy, he could be of some help for Washington. He’s just 33 years old and is a 10-year big league veteran. He’s dealt with some injuries over the last two seasons, but was an All-Star in 2021.
Throughout his 453 career appearances with the Red Sox and Miami Marlins, Barnes has a 4.13 career ERA. He pitched in 286 games between 2017 and 2021, recording a 3.82 ERA and a 404 to 131 strikeout to walk ratio.
If Washington is able to close a deal, he would be a good pickup if he can return to that caliber of play. Given his injury troubles over the past two seasons, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Barnes sign a minor league contract. However, don’t be shocked if he returns to the major leagues in 2024 if he’s healthy.
