Catcher Austin Barnes agrees to two-year contract extension with Dodgers

The Dodgers’ 2nd-longest tenured posture player will be being in Los Angeles for at minimum yet another few a long time.

On Sunday, the crew agreed to a two-12 months deal extension with catcher Austin Barnes, according to numerous people with information of the problem who weren’t approved to talk on the history.

Phrases of the deal have been not immediately recognized.

Barnes, 32, was drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2011 and acquired by the Dodgers in 2014 prior to debuting in the majors in 2015. Given that then, he’s been a consistent presence all around Chavez Ravine, largely as a backup catcher praised for his abilities guiding the plate and existence in the clubhouse.

Although he is just a job .224 hitter with 28 house operates in much more than 450 video games, Barnes has posted a positive wins earlier mentioned substitution whole in just about every of the previous 6 seasons. His very best period at the plate was in 2017, when he strike .289 though actively playing in a vocation-substantial 102 online games.

Considering the fact that then, he has been section of many distinct pairings powering the plate, forming partnerships with Yasmani Grandal, Russell Martin and, the very last a few seasons, Will Smith.

Barnes has been Clayton Kershaw’s most widespread battery mate more than the final 8 seasons, as well.

Barnes was set to be a free agent this wintertime, but will now be beneath deal with the Dodgers by way of the 2024 season.

Just after Kershaw, the only other Dodger who has been with the group for a longer time is 3rd baseman Justin Turner.

Barnes entered Sunday batting .188 with 4 dwelling runs and 12 RBIs in 30 online games this time. He has also been graded as a person of the finest pitch-framers in the majors by Baseball Savant.