Newly acquired Detroit Tigers catcher Tucker Barnhart is mostly recognized for winning a pair of Gold Glove awards with the Cincinnati Reds.
The 30-year-old was the best defensive catcher available this winter, and instead of waiting to bid on him in free agency, Tigers general manager Al Avila jumped at an opportunity to make a trade. He completed the deal Wednesday, sending minor-league infielder (and 2019 second-round pick) Nick Quintana to the Reds and picking up Barnhart’s option for 2022.
“Coming into this offseason, we knew that catcher was a priority position for us,” Avila said Wednesday. “Tucker’s name came up many times as an attractive option for our ballclub as someone who is a real plus defender, knows how to lead a pitching staff and is a solid contributor from the batter’s box.”
FIRST MOVE: By trading for Tucker Barnhart, Tigers are ‘trying to build a winning team’
TAKEAWAYS: How Tigers landed Tucker Barnhart, what trade means for other catchers
The Reds were willing to part ways because they have a younger catcher, Tyler Stephenson, prepared to assume the starting role. Instead of declining Barnhart’s option and letting him become a free agent, Reds general manager Nick Krall got something in return.
The Tigers were among a few interested teams.
“After feeling interest from the Reds to make a deal,” Avila said, “we moved quickly to make it happen and kick off our offseason transactions.”
SEIDEL: Tigers could have gone cheap on a catcher. It’s a big deal that they didn’t
Defense first
Barnhart, lauded for his game-calling, ability to block pitches and work with pitchers, earned his most recent Gold Glove in 2020. (His first came in 2017.) He’s not a future Hall of Famer, but he is a significant upgrade for the Tigers.
That because Detroit’s catchers haven’t produced a positive defensive runs saved (DRS) total since 2008, when Hall of Fame catcher Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez served as the primary starter (with plus-11 DRS over 706⅓ innings) and was backed up — then replaced following a July trade to the New York Yankees — by Brandon Inge, Dane Sardinha and Dusty Ryan.
Barnhart, meanwhile, has plus-20 DRS as a catcher in his eight-year MLB career, with a .997 fielding percentage (and only 30 passed balls and 16 errors) in 669 games behind the plate. In 2021, he was worth 2.4 framing runs — measuring his ability to “steal” strikes — and caught 28% of attempted basestealers, after catching 36% in 2020.
“He’s got two Gold Gloves in the big leagues and one in the minor leagues,” Stephenson said Wednesday, explaining Barnhart’s impact on his development. “You’re looking at one of the best defensive catchers in baseball.”
2022 ROSTER PREDICTION 1.0: Big name could fill shortstop void, but what about starting pitching?
PLAYER GRADES: Evaluating each Tiger as team aims for winning record, playoffs in 2022
The Tigers’ quintet of Eric Haase (543⅓ innings), Jake Rogers (310⅔), Grayson Greiner (214), Wilson Ramos (186⅔) and Dustin Garneau (165) were worth minus-14 DRS. The Reds had plus-3 DRS with Barnhart (846 innings) and Stephenson (588⅓).
“When you look at winning teams, you need to have a guy back there who knows, No. 1, that defense is a priority,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said Oct. 5, “and No. 2, knows how to guide a pitching staff through a game and through a season. It’s hard to keep stability back there.”
In 2020, the Tigers received minus-5 DRS from their catchers — Austin Romine, Greiner and Haase — in the 60-game season. The Reds were fifth-best in MLB with plus-7 DRS, thanks to Barnhart (272⅓ innings), Curt Casali (212⅔) and Stephenson (19). That year, Barnhart was solely responsible for the Reds’ positive grade. He earned plus-8 DRS.
What Barnhart accomplished helped Cincinnati’s pitching staff post a combined 3.89 ERA (eighth-best in MLB) and 9.9 WAR (second-best in MLB). Those results, as well as the defensive metrics, cemented Barnhart as a 2020 Gold Glove winner.
Barnhart won his first Gold Glove in 2017. He had plus-15 DRS over 926⅓ innings behind the plate, while the Reds’ other three catchers — Devin Mesoraco, Stuart Turner and Chad Wallach — combined for minus-8 DRS across 503⅔ innings.
“Obviously, there’s what he can do on the defensive side, but controlling your pitching staff and helping their development, take it all in,” Stephenson said. “You’re getting a class act and one of the best in baseball.”
Offense second
Barnhart, who turns 31 in January, hit .247 with seven home runs and 48 RBIs over 388 plate appearances in 116 games in 2021.
These numbers aren’t far off his career marks: .248, 51 homers, 161 RBIs, .324 on-base percentage and .371 slugging percentage across 744 games in eight years. A left-handed hitter, he should give the Tigers a much-needed boost against right-handed pitchers. He also has a 9.6% walk rate and 19.8% strikeout rate.
Recently, though, Barnhart has walked less and struck out more.
During his breakout 2017 season, Barnhart hit .270 and turned in a solid walk rate (9.9%) and career-best strikeout rate (16.1%). By 2019, his walk rate was 12.1%. Last season, he declined in each category, hitting .247 with a 7.5% walk rate and 25.8% strikeout rate. (MLB averages in 2021: 8.3% walk rate and 21.8% strikeout rate.)
“The No. 1 priority is to catch a winner,” Hinch said. “If you look at teams that are good, they have that makeup behind the plate. The offensive production is going to be secondary. Certainly, there are exceptions to that rule, but for the most part, the teams that have won … have stability in how they prepare and stability in how they apply it to the game plan that is second to none.”
THE SKIPPER: AJ Hinch didn’t know if he’d get another chance. Tigers sure glad he’s theirs
THE OTHER CATCHER: Jake Rogers ‘pushing to be back next year’ after Tommy John surgery
What Barnhart lacks offensively, he makes up for with his defense, leadership and reliability.
“Probably one of the best individuals, honestly, I’ve ever met,” Stephenson said. “The definition of what a professional player is and just a human. There’s a lot of good arms in that system, and to have his presence, it’s going to be great for their development.
“He’s been catching for a long time. He’s seen a lot of stuff. He’s going to be a huge help, not only in the clubhouse for everybody but for those young pitchers. It’ll be fun for you to watch.”
Barnhart was one of nine catchers in the National League to play at least 116 games in 2021. Since his MLB debut in 2014, he had just one stint on the injured list. (He missed one month in 2019 with a right oblique strain.)
“I’m a Midwestern guy,” Barnhart, an Indianapolis native, said. “I’m a blue-collar type of player. I will always be that way. I think that’s what makes me tick. To be a part of a blue-collar city in a blue-collar part of the country is awesome and very, very special to me.”
Now that Barnhart is out of the equation, Stephenson has a clear path as the Reds’ starter. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut in 2020 and was the No. 11 overall pick in 2015, six years after Barnhart went in the 10th round at No. 299 overall.
Although Stephenson has officially swiped Barnhart’s job in Cincinnati, he’ll gladly cheer for his mentor in Detroit.
“For him to be there for those guys, I wish him nothing but the best moving forward,” Stephenson said. “I’ll be one of his biggest fans from here on out. But I’m excited for him, and he’s going to be a huge help for really everybody there.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.