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Boston Red Sox have potential bargain with Matt Barnes extension

By David Hill

Jul 4, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes (32) celebrates after the game against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 4, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes (32) celebrates after the game against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Red Sox have been one of the bigger surprises in baseball this season, and it starts with their bullpen. While the rotation has struggled at times, the bullpen has been able to pick up the slack. Closer Matt Barnes has been a key part of that success, emerging as one of the top relievers in the game this season.

He is also someone that the Red Sox will not have to worry about replacing going forward. Barnes has signed a two year extension with Boston with a team option for 2024.

Boston Red Sox lock in key piece with Matt Barnes

It is not surprising that Barnes would sign a long term contract instead of looking to cash in during the offseason. The New England native had expressed a desire to remain in Boston beyond this season, and with his production this year, it was seemingly a matter of time before that deal came to be.

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If Barnes can continue to be the pitcher he had been this season, this extension will be a bargain. He has notched 19 saves while posting a 2.68 ERA and a 0.865 WHiP in his 37 innings, striking out 62 batters with just ten walks. As Barnes had been prone to lapses in command at times, his newfound ability to limit walks has made him one of the top relievers in the game.

There is a degree of risk for Boston. As strong as Barnes has been this season, he does not exactly have the same track record of success as some of the other top closers in the game. He was a solid enough setup man prior to his ascension to the ninth inning, but a 4.08 ERA, 1.367 WHiP, and a 4.2 BB/9 rate prior to this season are not exactly the hallmarks of a shutdown reliever.

However, this was a move that the Red Sox needed to make. There have been plenty of instances where a pitcher finds success as a closer in his early 30s, becoming one of the top options in the game. There is the potential that Barnes can be that type of closer as well.

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The Boston Red Sox have signed closer Matt Barnes to a two year extension. This contract could prove to be a tremendous bargain.

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