A veteran catcher who spent many years with the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball will start anew with rival team the New York Mets.
The New York Mets on the 30th (KST) signed catcher Austin Barnes (37) to a minor league contract. It also included an invitation to spring training.
Barnes made his big league debut with the Dodgers in 2015. He spent 11 years in a Dodgers uniform. He appeared in 612 games for the Dodgers, batting .223 with 35 home runs and 162 RBIs.
He was not notable for his offense, but he was also the catcher who recorded the final out that sealed the Dodgers' first World Series title in 32 years in 2020.
He was released by the Dodgers in late May last year. He then signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants but suffered the pain of being released again in early August. It seemed as if he would retire. Then he continued his active career again.
DodgersNation, which reports on Dodgers news, noted, "Barnes is signing a minor league contract with the Mets, one of the Dodgers' biggest rival teams, and joining them."
The outlet went on to reflect on Barnes, who played 11 years with the Dodgers, asking, "How will he be remembered?" and noting, "At 36, he spent 11 seasons with the Dodgers and was released in May. He joined the team in 2015 and played a key role for the Dodgers, including securing the final out that clinched the team's first title in 32 years in the 2020 World Series."
However, regarding his offense, the outlet examined the reason for his release, saying, "At the start of the 2025 season, Barnes, as a Dodger, struggled, batting .214 in 13 games. His offensive ability did not meet expectations." Barnes mainly served as a backup catcher.<
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