On Thursday, the New York Mets will host the Pittsburgh Pirates for their Opening Day matchup at Citi Field.
The Mets have been busy finalizing their roster ahead of the new season.
Mets Release 2-Time World Series Champion
Before their first game, the Mets have now made the move to release Austin Barnes.
The veteran catcher is coming off a season where he batted .214 in 13 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com wrote: “The Mets released veteran catcher Austin Barnes, who had been in camp on a minor league deal. That leaves Hayden Senger and Kevin Parada as the organization’s top Minor League catching options.”
Barnes’ MLB Career
Barnes was picked in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
He has spent all 11 seasons of his career playing for the Dodgers.
In 2017, Barnes batted .289 with eight home runs, 38 RBI’s, 35 runs and three stolen bases.
Barnes helped the Dodgers win the World Series Championship in each of the previous two years.
Over 612 career games, the 36-year-old has batted .223 with 35 home runs, 162 RBI’s, 206 runs and 23 stolen bases.
With his experience, Barnes could be a valuable addition to many clubhouses around the league.
X user @thebs19 wrote: “So the point of a Barnes signing, since he wasn’t really competing with Torrens, would be so that in case on injury, which has happened a lot, we don’t have to turn to Hayden Senger and Kevin Parada. Don’t get this, at all. Rortvedt is not much better, but guess hope he clears.”
Mets Before Pirates Battle
The Mets are coming off a season where they missed the MLB playoffs.
That said, they have a roster that many believe could compete for a World Series berth in 2026.
Following the Pirates, the Mets will head on the road for a series with the St. Louis Cardinals on March 30.
New York Mets Release World Series Champion Before Pirates Game