There are roster moves and then there are gut punches. The Dodgers made one of the latter this week, designating veteran catcher Austin Barnes for assignment, and nobody felt it harder than Clayton Kershaw.
“Barnesy’s one of my best friends on or off the field,” Kershaw said, clearly emotional. “You won’t find a guy that competes better than Austin Barnes. He wants to win more than anybody… he came up with some big moments for us throughout the years.”
Barnes has been with the Dodgers since 2015, playing 612 games in Dodger Blue with a .223 batting average, 35 home runs, and 162 RBIs. He was never the flashiest player, but his leadership and postseason presence were huge in LA’s World Series runs, especially in 2020.
Thank you, 15. pic.twitter.com/eao7LWQpSy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 14, 2025
Kershaw reminded everyone that Barnes didn’t just hang around, he won games.
“I think a lot of people forget he was starting a lot of playoff games and winning a lot of games for us, getting big knocks,” he said. “It’s sad to see someone like that go who’s been here that long.”
Why Did Dodgers DFA Austin Barnes?
This was a tough call, but it came down to performance. Austin Barnes, a clubhouse leader and fan favorite, just wasn’t producing at the plate. The 34-year-old was batting .214 with no homers and only two RBIs in limited action this season.
With the Dodgers in win-now mode and top catching prospect Dalton Rushing tearing it up in the minors, the front office decided it was time to make a change.
Still, Kershaw made it clear this wasn’t about replacing a player. It was about losing a brother.
“It’s no disrespect to Dalton… It’s just for me, and I think for a lot of guys on the team, it was disappointing to see him go.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a strong start in the 2025 season, boasting a 29–15 record and leading the National League West division.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers are set to face the Los Angeles Angels on May 16 at Dodger Stadium.
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