Is Matt Barnes a Red Sox Bullpen Candidate?

The Boston Red Sox have been known to draft and sign local players from time to time, and the same is true for former first round pick Matt Barnes. The right handed pitcher is from Bethel, Connecticut, and played college ball with UConn.

Drafted in 2011, Barnes saw his first major league action last season as the Red Sox struggled with their bullpen all year. In his five games out of the bullpen, he pitched to a 4.00 ERA giving up 11 hits, two walks, and striking out eight over his nine innings of work.

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Things might be a bit different this time around as it seems Barnes has a shot at making the roster.

The Red Sox mentioned the other day that instead of stretching out Barnes as a starting pitcher getting ready to head back to Triple A Pawtucket, they will use him more often and treat his development as a relief pitcher.

“I wanted to take a look at him earlier in the game against more of the ‘A’ type lineups as opposed to the first couple of times out and today was the first exposure to that,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said on WEEI.com. “We’re still taking a look at him in shorter stints right now.”

If needed, Barnes could probably start as well. Joe Kelly has struggled mightily all spring while Clay Buchholz has been historically unreliable. Justin Masterson might be better suited for the bullpen long term.

Last season with Pawtucket Barnes started 22 games (and pitcher in 23 overall) where he had an ERA of 3.95 and struck out 103 over 127 innings pitched.

Barnes typically pitches between 88-94 MPH as a starter but in the bullpen for just an inning or two could rear up to 96-96 MPH. At time when he needs to he can reach back for that as a starter, but pitching out of the bullpen as a relief pitcher could sharpen his stuff in a more isolated environment.

Barnes was dominant in his last season of pitching with UConn, with a 1.62 ERA in his 116 innings of work with 11 strikeouts. Over recent years, Barnes has given up more scattered hits but doesn’t walk many in a snapshot. He would likely be better suited for the bullpen because of the way he digs in and goes all out with every start, and to have the opportunity to give it his all in one inning would likely be the best way to go with him.

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