Before the free-agent season begins this weekend, new Boston Red Sox President Dave Dombrowski announced one of his first moves:
Matt Barnes is going to the bullpen full-time.
Barnes, 25, a first-round draft pick (19th overall) in 2011, has been kept stretched out as a starter, even though he bounced between the rotation and relief.
“Our plans are for him to come to spring training … and really focus on the bullpen, to try and help us with that power arm out there,” Dombrowski said on radio station WEEI.
It’s an idea that has worked before, briefly. Another first-round draft pick out of college – Daniel Bard in 2006 – moved from the rotation to relieving and was lights out in 2010 (1.93 ERA) and most of 2011 (3.33).
Bard struggled in September 2011, made an ill-advised attempt at starting again in 2012, lost his command and has yet to regain it. Bard signed with the Cubs last winter but never pitched beyond spring training.
Bard initially moved to the bullpen because of command problems. Barnes’ move seems more to do with effectiveness.
Dombrowski believes that Barnes’ 95 mph fastball is best served in relief.
Barnes recorded a 5.44 ERA and 1.65 WHIP (walks/hits per innings) last year. The last two months were telling for Barnes, who made two starts for the Red Sox in August.
In the first start, Barnes did not allow a hit and struck out six through 31/3 innings before the wheels fell off (five innings, six hits, six runs).
In the second start, Barnes allowed a two-run double in the first inning, then settled down to throw zeroes over the next 41/3 innings before collapsing again (51/3 innings, eight hits, five runs).
After August, Barnes made 10 relief appearances – 0.87 ERA, .211 batting average against.
In the bullpen, Barnes’ fastball average ticks up from 94.5 to 95.5 mph but the key is command. His fastball can come in straight and go out quickly; he allowed nine homers (in 43 innings), only three behind regular relievers Alexi Ogando and Craig Breslow.
Barnes said he learned how to be a reliever by the end of the season, which may account for his September/October stats.
Boston’s bullpen needs an overhaul and the Red Sox will bring in help from the outside. But in Barnes, Dombrowski hopes at least one in-house addition will work out.
NOTES: One possible option for the starting rotation, Brian Johnson, was the passenger in a vehicle that was carjacked last week in Cocoa Beach, Florida. While the driver suffered a minor injury to his leg, Johnson was not harmed. The suspect was later arrested. … Another former Sea Dogs pitcher, Chris Martin, had his contract sold by the Yankees (with Martin’s permission) to the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan.
More Sea Dogs alumni news: Infielder Heiker Meneses re-signed with the Twins on a minor league deal. … Outfielder David Murphy did not have his $7 million option picked up by the Angels, making him a free agent. … Anthony Iapoce was named the Texas Rangers’ hitting coach. Iapoce, 42, spent nine seasons in minor league ball, including 2002 in Portland, and then 10 more as a minor league instructor with the Marlins, Blue Jays and Cubs.
Looking for the next Daniel Nava? The Red Sox recently signed outfielder Jayce Ray, 26, who has played the last three years in the independent leagues (.322 average/.867 OPS).
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