Dodgers Veteran Cuts Ties With Team Just Before Tarik Skubal Trade

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: A wide position of the Los Angeles Dodgers logo earlier a outpouring training crippled betwixt the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers astatine Camelback Ranch connected March 06, 2026 successful Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

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The Los Angeles Dodgers spent the last days earlier the MLB waste and acquisition deadline juggling their pitching unit while aggressively pursuing upgrades for different postseason run. As speculation intensified astir blockbuster moves — including the club's eventual acquisition of ace Tarik Skubal — the statement besides softly parted ways pinch a seasoned left-hander who had provided emergency extent passim the season.

While the spotlight centered connected the headline-grabbing summation of the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, different roster determination marked the extremity of a little Dodgers section for a pitcher whose domiciled had go uncertain.

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On Saturday, conscionable a fewer hours earlier news of Skubal joining the Dodgers broke, lefty reliever Charlie Barnes officially opted retired of his Dodgers woody and elected free agency, according to the transaction log.

Barnes' departure came only days aft his latest stint pinch the Dodgers reached an end. While the 30-year-old began his big-league profession pinch the Minnesota Twins backmost successful 2021, he has struggled successful constricted awesome convention action this season, he seemed arsenic a imaginable extent fresh for the statement arsenic it pushed toward a 3rd consecutive World Series run.

But Barnes’ determination to time off the statement mightiness person been motivated by a chance to commencement complete caller and time off a harsh stint down him.

“Around the various transactions he has been progressive successful this year, Barnes has posted an unsightly 7.50 earned tally mean successful a mini sample of 12 innings divided betwixt the (Chicago) Cubs and Dodgers,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “He has a overmuch much palatable 4.39 ERA successful 55 1/3 Triple-A innings this year. He spent 2022 to 2025 successful the KBO League successful South Korea, posting a 3.58 ERA complete there. He still has options and could beryllium easy sent backmost to the minors aft eating immoderate innings.”

Despite his awesome convention struggles, Barnes remained a useful extent action tin of covering innings erstwhile injuries struck.

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The timing of Barnes' exit was linked to the Skubal addition, but it was different prima transaction that first pushed him disconnected of the Dodgers’ big-league roster.

“Barnes loses his spot successful the Los Angeles’ bullpen pinch high-priced person Edwin Díaz coming backmost from the injured list,” NBC Sports’ George Bissell reported past month. “The well-traveled 30-year-old has allowed 7 runs complete 10 innings crossed 4 appearances for the Dodgers this season.”

Once Barnes cleared waivers, he chose free agency alternatively of remaining successful the organization, allowing him to hunt for different opportunity elsewhere.

His departure yet coincided pinch 1 of the busiest stretches of Los Angeles’ season. For Barnes, free agency offers a chance to reset amid different whirlwind campaign. Although his awesome convention numbers did not lucifer expectations, his coagulated Triple-A accumulation and erstwhile occurrence overseas could still make him an appealing extent target for clubs seeking knowledgeable left-handed pitching.