The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Austin Barnes to a two-year, $7 million contract extension that runs through the 2024 season. Barnes’ new deal includes a commitment to make charitable contributions.
Should he remain with the team throughout the lifetime of the contract, Barnes will have spent 10 seasons with the Dodgers. He’s the third-longest tenured player on the Dodgers’ roster, behind only Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner.
John Roseboro, Steve Yeager, Joe Ferguson and Mike Scioscia are catchers who were with the Dodgers for at least 10 seasons. Though, Ferguson’s time with the franchise across multiple stints.
Barnes joined the organization in a December 2014 trade that also brought Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney and Kiké Hernandez to the Dodgers in a deal that sent Dee Strange-Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas and cash considerations to the Miami Marlins.
Heaney was immediately flipped to the Los Angeles Angels in a Howie Kendrick trade, but now is back for a second stint with the Dodgers.
Meanwhile, Barnes has hit .223/.333/.354 with 49 doubles, 28 home runs and 124 RBI in 455 games over parts of eight seasons. He was originally selected out of Arizona State University by the Marlins in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
Although Barnes has been inconsistent at the plate, he’s remained an elite defender. On top of ranking highly with pitch framing, Barnes has thrown out five of 14 base stealers. His 35.7% rate is well above the MLB average of 25%.
Barnes was due to become a free agent after the 2022 season. He avoided arbitration with the Dodgers in February 2021 by signing a two-year, $4.3 million contract. Barnes’ deal included a signing bonus and incentives for games played and performance bonuses.
Austin Barnes bobblehead
Prior to signing a two-year contract extension, a first-ever Austin Barnes bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 24 was included on the Dodgers’ 2022 promotional and giveaways calendar.
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