Dodgers avoid arbitration with Clayton Kershaw's best friend

Dodgers avoid arbitration with Clayton Kershaw’s best friend

Oct 20, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) and starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) walk off the field after the top of the 1st inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

The Los Angeles Dodgers avoid arbitration with catcher Austin Barnes on Sunday.

The past two weeks for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been pretty great for them. The team signed top free agent pitcher Trevor Bauer to a three-year deal, reunited with third baseman Justin Turner on a two-year pact and avoided arbitration with right-hander Walker Buehler. If you thought the Dodgers were done, you happen to be wrong.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Dodgers have agreed to terms with catcher Austin Barnes on a two-year, $4.3 million contract to avoid arbitration.

Barnes will make $1.8 million (including a $300,000 signing bonus) in 2021 and $2.5 million in 2022 and can earn an additional $400,000 in incentives if he plays in at least 80 games each season, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

The Dodgers have agreed on a two-year, $4.3M contract with catcher Austin Barnes, avoiding arbitration, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 15, 2021

Austin Barnes, who was eligible for salary arbitration, will earn $1.8 million this year (including $300K signing bonus), $2.5M next year and he can earn an additional $400,000 in incentives in 2022 if he plays in 80 games in each of the next two years.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 15, 2021

Barnes returning for two more seasons

This is great news for ace pitcher Clayton Kerhsaw, who always has Barnes as his personal catcher for his starts. Now, the duo get to play together for one more season, as Kershaw becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the upcoming campaign.

In 29 games this past season, Barnes slashed .244/.353/.314 with one home run, nine RBI, 14 runs scored and 21 hits. When behind home plate, Barnes accumulated a fielding percentage of .992 (two errors on 253 defensive chances), allowed zero passed balls and eight wild pitches.

Barnes played in 10 postseason games with the Dodgers and he recorded a .320 batting average and .833 OPS, along with one home run, three RBI, four runs scored and eight hits. As a result of the team effort, Barnes won his first-ever World Series.

The Dodgers are getting ready to make a return trip to the Fall Classic later this year, and they ensured that Barnes would come along for the ride.

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