The New York Mets released catcher Austin Barnes from his minor league contract March 23, two days before the first game of Major League Baseball‘s regular season.
MORE: Dodgers cut World Series champion three days before Opening Day
Barnes, 36, slashed .313/.389/.500 in eight Grapefruit League games. Known as a superior pitch-framer and blocker behind the plate, the longtime Los Angeles Dodgers backup will hope to continue his career at an age when many are forced to retire.
After being released twice in the last year — in May 2025 by the Dodgers, then in August by the San Francisco Giants — Barnes was hoping to latch on in Queens as the backup to Francisco Alvarez.
Barnes is the second recently unemployed stalwart of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series team that ended the franchise’s 32-year championship drought. Veteran utility player Chris Taylor, 35, was released by the Los Angeles Angels on March 20.
Barnes told the New York Post on March 18 that he was hoping to extend his major league career to a 12th season.
“I just want to play baseball,” Barnes told Mike Puma in the Mets’ spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida. “I’m gonna go out there and see what happens. I think I still have some ball left in me, so I just want to keep going.”
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
MARCH MADNESS: Updated 2026 March Madness bracket, Sweet 16 set for NCAA Tournament
NFL: 3 NFL Draft prospects whose stock is in question
MLB: Dodgers cut World Series champion three days before Opening Day
NBA: Kevin Durant has low-key response to passing Michael Jordan on NBA scoring list
ENTERTAINMENT: Fans react to Chappel Roan, Jorginho daughter controversy
VIRAL: Flau’jae Johnson, Kim Mulkey share emotional moment after final LSU home game
