Is Matt Barnes a good fit for the Miami Marlins bullpen?
The Miami Marlins have picked up Matt Barnes from the Red Sox for Richard Bleier and cash considerations, giving Miami some late-inning pop
There are unconfirmed reports circulating that the Marlins have added an experienced late-inning arm to their bullpen on Monday, after getting Matt Barnes and $1 million from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for left-handed reliever Richard Bleier.
The 32-year-old Barnes was DFA’d last week by the Sox, ending his eight-year run with the club. Less to do with his individual performance and more about making room on the 40-man roster for Adam Duvall, Barnes nevertheless didn’t help his case out at the end of last season when he entered a full-blown meltdown, giving up 12 runs on 17 hits over just 10.2 innings pitched.
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It is an ignominious end to a sparkling tenure as the Red Sox’s closer, and the Marlins are happy to add him to their late-inning lineup. He will join Tanner Scott, Dylan Floro, Anthony Bender, and JT Chargois as the closeout club for Miami. Barnes has a career 4.07 ERA and a respectable 1.34 WHIP, chalking up 556 strikeouts in 431.2 innings.
For their part of the trade, the Red Sox get a dependable middle reliever in Richard Bleier, who throws a nasty sinker from the left side leading to a high-percentage ground ball production. His 3.06 career ERA and 1.20 WHIP will fit nicely into a Boston bullpen that will desperately need to find answers after last season’s terrible performance.