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Diamondbacks DFA Tucker Barnhart, clears way for Gabriel Moreno’s return

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6 months ago

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Diamondbacks DFA Tucker Barnhart, clears way for Gabriel Moreno’s return

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The Diamondbacks designated Tucker Barnhart for assignment on Sunday, likely cutting ties with the veteran catcher halfway through the season.

The move clears the way for catcher Gabriel Moreno to be reinstated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday night’s series opener at Dodger Stadium.

It also leaves the club with Jose Herrera as its primary backup.

Barnhart has not swung the bat well this year, going 14 for 81 (.173) with three doubles and 31 strikeouts. He also has not graded well in various defensive metrics that evaluate catchers.

But he was often referenced by pitchers over the first few months of the season for the insights he provided to help them improve.

The Diamondbacks have seven days to trade or release Barnhart or place him on waivers. Barnhart is still being paid by the Chicago Cubs, who signed him to a two-year deal prior to last year, a contract that included a $3.25 million salary for 2024. The Diamondbacks were paying Barnhart the major league minimum.

Herrera, who joined the team last week in Philadelphia after Moreno landed on the IL with a thumb injury, has gone just 1 for 7. He was hitting .260/.351/.362 over 37 games in Reno prior to his promotion.

The development of young catcher Adrian Del Castillo, who is mashing in Triple-A Reno, where he owns a .325/.400/.608 line through 72 games, had an impact on the club’s willingness to lose the depth Barnhart offered.

Del Castillo’s bat is said to be ahead of his defense, but the club, which selected Del Castillo in the second round of the 2021 draft, believes he has made progress behind the plate this year.

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