🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the baseball world by designating longtime catcher Austin Barnes for assignment Wednesday. The Dodgers called up top prospect Dalton Rushing, and the corresponding roster move was the Barnes DFA.
More news: Way Too Early MLB Awards Predictions: Yankees, Dodgers Dominate MVP, Cy Young and More
Barnes spent 11 seasons with the Dodgers, making his Major League debut with the organization in 2015. The veteran's departure signaled the Dodgers are focused on winning another championship.
Clayton Kershaw, who began the season on the injured list, will make his season debut Saturday at Dodger Stadium. While many fans perhaps expected Barnes to be behind the plate when Kershaw took the mound, that won't be the case in 2025.
Kershaw remarked on the shocking decision from the Dodgers to DFA Barnes, whom he called a friend.
"I think everybody was surprised," Kershaw said Thursday. "Yeah. It's sad. Barnesy's one of my best friends on or off the field. You won't find a guy that competes better than Austin Barnes. He wants to win more than anybody, and he always found a way, and he came up with some big moments for us throughout the years. I think a lot of people forget he was starting a lot of playoff games and winning a lot of games for us, getting big knocks."
Kershaw acknowledged it was disappointing to find out Barnes would no longer be in the Dodgers' clubhouse.
"It's sad to see someone like that go who's been here that long, and I think we all kind of feel it," Kershaw said. "It's no disrespect to Dalton. I know he deserves it, and he's going to be a great player. It's just for me, personally, I think for a lot of guys on the team, it was disappointing to see him go."
Barnes was slashing .214/.233/.286 with two RBIs and an OPS of .518 across 44 plate appearances this season.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman revealed the rationale behind the roster decision, citing a competitive division race this season.
"Rush has obviously been on our radar for a long time in terms of when and how to introduce him to the major league team," Friedman said. "I think with the improvements we've seen year over year, coupled with being in a tight division race ... I think it falls in line with our consistent message of doing anything and everything we can to win."
Rushing made his MLB debut Thursday against the Athletics. He went 2-for-4 at the plate with a single and a walk.
More news: Yankees Injured 3rd Baseman Sends Strong Message on Future Plans After Surgery
For more MLB news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
About the writer
Valentina Martinez is a Newsweek contributor based in Los Angeles. Her focus is reporting on sports, with an expertise in ... Read more