TUCKER BARNHART NEWS

Latches on with Reds The Reds signed Barnhart to a minor-league contract on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Barnhart was released by the Diamondbacks in early July and after spending a month in free agency, the 33-year-old catcher has finally found a home. He'll return to a Reds organization which he spent the first 13 years of his professional career with after being selected in the 10th round of the 2009 draft. Considering Cincinnati isn't very thin at the catcher position, Barnhart doesn't have a clear path to big-league at-bats. He should be expected to report to Triple-A Louisville.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

Released by Arizona The Diamondbacks released Barnhart on Saturday.

Impact Barnhart predictably passed through waivers after being designated for assignment and is now officially a free agent. The veteran catcher should be able to find work elsewhere but is likely to have to accept a minor-league contract.

JULY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Getting Saturday off Barnhart isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup for Saturday's game versus Oakland.

Impact The switch-hitting Barnhart owns just a .290 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, so he'll take a seat Saturday as the A's send southpaw Hogan Harris to the mound. Jose Herrera will fill in behind the dish and bat ninth.

JUNE 29 • ROTOWIRE

Suárez, Pederson homer, Nelson goes 6 innings in Diamondbacks' 7-1 victory over White Sox

Eugenio Suárez homered, Ryne Nelson pitched six solid innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago White Sox 7-1 on Friday night for their fourth victory in five games and...

JUNE 15 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

D-backs scratch across two late runs to beat Tigers 6-4, avoid three-game sweep

Joc Pederson and Christian Walker both had two RBIs, and the Arizona Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Detroit Tigers 6-4

MAY 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Corbin Carroll hits a 2-out single in the 8th to put Diamondbacks on top, beat struggling Reds 5-4

Slade Cecconi pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, Corbin Carroll drove in the game-winning run with an eighth-inning single and the Arizona Diamondbacks hung on to beat Cincinna...

MAY 9 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Added to Opening Day roster The Diamondbacks selected Barnhart's contract Monday.

Impact The transaction confirms that Barnhart will be a part of the Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster, which had already been made apparent when his primary competition for the No. 2 catcher role, Jose Herrera, was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sunday. During his time in the big leagues with the Reds, Tigers and Cubs, Barnhart has been valued for his defensive work and ability to handle a pitching staff, but the Diamondbacks aren't likely to count on him to make more than one or two starts per week while top backstop Gabriel Moreno is healthy.

MARCH 25 • ROTOWIRE

Gets NRI deal from Arizona Barnhart signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Impact Barnhart slashed .202/.285/.257 with nine RBI across 123 plate appearances with the Cubs last season before being DFA'd and finishing the year with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. With Gabriel Moreno virtually locked in as Arizona's everyday catcher, Barnhart will compete with Jose Herrera in the spring for the backup job.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Joins Dodgers on MiLB deal Barnhart agreed to a minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Impact The Dodgers already have Will Smith and Austin Barnes as their catching options at the MLB level and both are healthy, so Barnhart looks as though he'll represent little more than organizational depth for Los Angeles. However, with the active roster expanding from 26 to 28 men in September, Barnhart could be a candidate to join the big club during the final month of the season as a third option behind the dish. Prior to being let go by the Cubs earlier this month, Barnhart slashed .202/.285/.257 with one home run in 123 plate appearances on the season.

AUGUST 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Released by Cubs Barnhart was released by the Cubs on Sunday.

Impact Barnhart cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and has now officially hit the free agent market. The veteran catcher managed just a .541 OPS across 44 games for the Cubbies this season.

AUGUST 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Mooney: The Cubs DFA'd backup catcher Tucker Barnhart... - The Athletic The Cubs DFA’d backup catcher Tucker Barnhart and recalled infielder Miles Mastrobuoni from Triple-A Iowa.

AUGUST 19, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Designated for assignment The Cubs designated Barnhart for assignment Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Barnhart already wasn't receiving much playing time as the third catcher on the Cubs' depth chart, and now he'll lose his spot on Chicago's 40-man roster. The 32-year-old backstop has slashed .202/.285/.257 through 123 plate appearances this season, which limits his chances of getting picked up off waivers. Miles Mastrobuoni was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

AUGUST 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Enters Sunday lineup Barnhart is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Sunday's game against the Yankees.

Impact Barnhart will start the final game before the All-Star break with Yan Gomes getting a breather. The former is struggling in a reserve role with a .189 batting average and .508 OPS across 36 games, and he's not really on the fantasy radar at this point, particularly with Miguel Amaya also on the roster as another option behind Gomes.

JULY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hits first 2023 home run Barnhart went 1-for-3 with a walk and solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Impact Barnhart's third-inning home run was his first of the season and just his second in the last two years. The veteran catcher has seen his playing time dwindle behind Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya. With just a .503 OPS and two players ahead of him on the depth chart, Barnhart is off the fantasy radar at the moment.

JUNE 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pitcher-catcher combinations making a difference for Cubs During Marcus Stroman's last two starts -- a 1-hitter against Tampa and victory over the Mets -- Tucker Barnhart was his catcher.

MAY 31, 2023 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Seeing scant work behind Gomes Barnhart remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

Impact Barnhart had already been occupying the smaller side of a timeshare at catcher with Miguel Amaya early last week, but the former has seen his playing-time outlook become worse with the return of Yan Gomes (concussion) from the 7-day injured list. Even with Amaya now back in the minors, Barnhart has now sat out five times in the Cubs' last six games.

MAY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Sunday Barnhart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Barnhart has a .464 OPS in 45 plate appearances and will take a seat Sunday for the third time in the past four games. Top catcher Yan Gomes (concussion) is on the injured list, and rookie Miguel Amaya is 1-for-5 with two RBI since his promotion Tuesday.

MAY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits in second straight Barnhart is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Marlins.

Impact Barnhart had started behind the dish in the Cubs' first two games since Yan Gomes suffered a head injury Monday that was later diagnosed as a concussion, but rookie Miguel Amaya will now make a second consecutive start Friday while Barnhart retreats to the bench. Though Barnhart is the more battle-tested backstop and the superior defensive option, his puny .449 OPS over 42 plate appearances has opened the door for Amaya to perhaps become part of a timeshare at the position while Gomes is on the 7-day inured list.

MAY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench versus righty Barnhart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Impact Barnhart had drawn starts behind the dish on the last two occasions the Cubs opposed right-handed starting pitchers, but he'll take a seat Sunday against Marlins righty Bryan Hoeing, perhaps because the two teams are facing a quick turnaround for the series finale, which starts at 12:05 p.m. ET. Yan Gomes will catch for starting pitcher Justin Steele on Sunday.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting against lefty Barnhart is not in the starting lineup Friday against Miami.

Impact Barnhart will take a seat as the Cubs face off with left-hander Jesus Luzardo and the Marlins, giving way to Yan Gomes who will take over behind the plate and bat eighth. Barnhart has produced just two hits over his last 18 at-bats while striking out nine times over that stretch, so it's possible that Gomes, who's batting .257 with two homers and seven RBI over 35 at-bats versus righties this year, takes full command of the platoon at catcher.

APRIL 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Wednesday Barnhart is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Padres.

Impact Yan Gomes will catch and bat eighth with right-hander Michael Wacha on the mound for San Diego. It's the third straight start behind the plate for Gomes, though the previous two starts were versus lefties. He has greatly outperformed Barnhart offensively and may be capturing a larger share of the catcher platoon in Chicago.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits against lefty Barnhart is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.

Impact Barnhart will be on the bench for the second straight game, with both absences coming with the Cubs facing left-handed pitchers. Though Yan Gomes has logged 25 more plate appearances this season, Barnhart appears to have taken hold of a strong-side platoon role at catcher. Twenty-six of Barnhart's 28 plate appearances to date have come versus right-handed pitching, while Gomes has made only 31 of his 53 plate appearances against righties.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Sunday Barnhart is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact With Yan Gomes getting the call against Los Angeles starter Clayton Kershaw, Barnhart will retreat to the bench. The veteran hasn't done much with the bat so far, slashing just .200/.250/.200 with an RBI and a run scored across 25 at-bats. He should continue to split playing time with Gomes, though Luis Torrens, who is starting as the DH on Sunday, could also earn a larger role moving forward.

APRIL 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up first start Barnhart is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Saturday's game against the Brewers.

Impact Yan Gomes started on Opening Day, but he'll head to the bench in favor of Barnhart on Saturday. The two veterans are expected to split catching duties this season. Barnhart struggled offensively this spring, however, and could be slightly behind Gomes in the pecking order at the moment. Gomes will likely bump Barnhart back to the bench Sunday.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles continue Friday Barnhart, who went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox, is now batting just .071 this spring.

Impact Barnhart has one hit in 14 Cactus League at-bats and has struck out three times. The catcher only batted .221 over 94 games with the Tigers last season, so the Cubs weren't expecting a ton of offense from the offseason addition, though a slight uptick in production would be welcome. Barnhart figures to split time behind the plate with Yan Gomes, though the latter could emerge as the primary option if he hits better.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE