Cubs’ Former Southpaw Walks Away From NL Powerhouse After 3-Game Debacle
The Los Angeles Dodgers, comfortably in the playoff race, are actively seeking bullpen depth, a quest that recently saw former Chicago Cubs left-hander Charlie Barnes' brief tenure conclude. Barnes, acquired off waivers from the Cubs, declined to remain with the Dodgers after clearing waivers, ending his opportunity after just three major league appearances. His time with the team was marred by a disastrous outing where he surrendered seven earned runs, following an earlier poor performance with the Cubs. Despite these struggles and lacking overpowering velocity, Barnes is still considered a viable organizational depth option due to his diverse five-pitch mix. He now returns to the open market, hoping to secure a fresh start with another club before the season's end.
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the second half of the season comfortably positioned in the National League playoff race, but their roster continues to churn as they search for bullpen depth behind one of baseball's most fearsome starting rotations.
As it turns out, even powerhouse contenders are forced to shuffle through relief experiments in the marathon season.
That proved to be the case for former Chicago Cubs left-hander Charlie Barnes, whose brief opportunity with the Dodgers came to a close after just three major league appearances.
The Dodgers' latest roster transaction became official this week when Barnes declined to remain in the organization after clearing waivers, according to the official transaction log.
The move ends a whirlwind stretch for the 29-year-old southpaw, who joined the Dodgers shortly after his debut with the Cubs.
"Los Angeles grabbed Barnes off waivers after the Cubs DFAed him in early May,” Charlie Wright wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “He's bounced back and forth between the big-league club and the minors. Barnes recorded a pair of scoreless innings to begin his Dodgers tenure. His final outing with the club didn't go so well. The lefty was crushed for seven earned runs as a bulk reliever against the A's on July 1. He was sent down the following day."
In three innings in a single game for the Cubs, Barnes gave up three earned runs. In nine innings across three games for the Dodgers following that, he gave up seven more earned runs — a brief debacle that has now ended with his exit from the organization.
While Barnes' final outing for the Dodgers proved costly, evaluators have long viewed him as a pitcher capable of providing organizational depth despite lacking overpowering velocity.
"Barnes doesn't have overpowering stuff, instead relying on a diverse five-pitch mix,” Wright added. “He sits in the high-80s with the four-seamer and sinker. His secondaries include a slider, changeup, and sweeper. Barnes' heater lacks ride, but has above-average armside movement.”
Barnes could get the chance to pursue another opportunity elsewhere before the stretch run at the end of this season. Before joining the Cubs, he had last appeared in MLB with the Minnesota Twins in 2021.
Barnes has shown enough versatility throughout his professional career to attract interest as a depth option. Whether that next opportunity comes with another contender or an organization seeking rotation insurance, the former Cubs left-hander will now attempt to turn an abbreviated Los Angeles chapter into a fresh start elsewhere.