Former Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes has signed a deal with the New York Mets ahead of the 2026 season.
Barnes will head to one of L.A.’s biggest rivals on a minor league deal. The deal includes an invitation to spring training.
More news: Giants’ New Signing Eager to Face Dodgers This Season
How Will Austin Barnes Be Remembered After His 11-Year Run With the Dodgers?
The 36-year-old was DFA’d by the club in mid-May after 11 seasons in L.A. He joined the team in 2015 and has been an integral part of the Dodgers, including catching the final out of the 2020 World Series, which ended the team’s dreaded 32-year drought.
At the start of the 2025 season, Barnes struggled mightily, hitting .214 in 13 games with the Dodgers. L.A.’s offense was not where it was supposed to be, and with his struggles, it made it easier for L.A. to part ways with its long-time catcher.
After he was DFA’d by the Dodgers, he signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants in late June. In 13 appearances split between the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants and Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he went 8-for-39 with two RBIs.
The Giants organization released Barnes on August 1.
The Riverside native had spent his entire career in Los bgels before being DFA’d. In his time in L.A., Barnes slashed .223/.322/.338 with a .660 OPS, 80 OPS+, along with 35 home runs, 162 RBIs, and 338 hits in 1757 plate appearances and 612 games.
Barnes mainly served as the backup catcher for the club and has come up big in crucial spots throughout his tenure.
The Miami Marlins originally drafted him in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB Draft. However, he did not play with their major league club; he spent time with their Low-A, Single-A, High-A, and Double-A clubs. With the Marlins organization, he split time between catcher and second base.
3 Responses
It would be nice if the Dodgers could make him a minor league coach if the Mets don’t work out. He was one of the best at framing pitches, something a lot of catchers don’t do well. Maybe he could help young Dodger catchers learn that valuable skill although with the “Autocall” on balls and strikes about to happen, that may not be as much of a deal anymore. He was a loyal Dodger though, to the bitter end.
I don’t blame him for trying, I get that playing ball is almost like a drug, you’ve just got to if you possibly can. Not to mention minimum wage is what, ~600K or so, which is absolutely ridiculous money to most of us. But it sure looks to me like the handwriting is on the wall for the end of his career. While he had a couple of decent years, his bat has always been weak, especially in this swing for the fences, power driven era.
yeah, my impression also. still, he got some great plays and clutch hits for us over the years, he will always be a Dodger even if not an active one.
hopefully he put enough money aside to live well on.