Barnes shows interest in MLB Lotte prepares contract renewal and ‘Plan B’ simultaneously

Barnes, a ‘healthy left-hander’ who pitched 356⅔ innings in the last two seasons

Lotte starting pitcher Barnes fights back

The 2023 professional baseball game between Hanwha Eagles and Lotte Giants held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 13th.Lotte starting pitcher Barnes is struggling.

There is a local report that there is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team interested in left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes (28, Lotte Giants), who has played in the KBO League for the second year this year.

MLB Network reporter John Morosi said on the 3rd (Korean time), "Lotte is showing intent to renew the contract with Barnes, and several MLB teams are showing interest in recruiting Barnes. Currently, Barnes is officially a free agent." .

Barnes, who is still in his 20s, wore a Lotte uniform last year and over two seasons played 61 games, 356⅔ innings, 23 wins, 22 losses, 307 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.46.

It's not that he showed overwhelming performance, but the only player in the KBO League over the past two seasons who has played more innings than Barnes is Ko Young-pyo (KT Wiz).Ko Young-pyo pitched 357 innings and had just one more out count than Barnes.

After this season ended, the Lotte club discussed opinions with new manager Kim Tae-hyung and decided on a policy to renew contracts with two existing foreign pitchers for the 2024 season.

Accordingly, Aaron Wilkerson (34) renewed his contract on the 16th of last month for a total of $950,000.

However, rather than making a quick conclusion, Barnes is currently negotiating with a return to MLB in mind.

A Lotte club official said, “We are still pursuing a contract renewal with Barnes,” and added, “It is unlikely that a conclusion will be reached anytime soon.”

Lotte starter Barnes

Barnes is reportedly contemplating whether to stay at Lotte or challenge the MLB.

If you stay in Korea, you can receive a stable amount of money, and if you try to play in MLB, you have to overcome fierce competition.

Lotte Club is also preparing various scenarios in case the contract renewal with Barnes falls through.

We are constantly monitoring the MLB atmosphere because 'big catch' players like this year's KBO League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Eric Peddy (NC Dinos) who have not found a team in the major league may appear on the market.

A player whom Barnes can consider a 'success story' is left-handed pitcher Brooks Reilly (35, New York Mets), who previously played for Lotte.

Reilly played for Lotte from 2015 to 2019 and succeeded in returning to the big league in 2020 with 48 wins, 53 losses, 910 innings, 755 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.13 in 152 games.

Reilly entered the MLB stage after signing a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, and played for the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays before donning a Mets uniform at the end of last year.

This year, he appeared in 66 games for the Mets, earning 1 win, 2 losses, 3 saves, 25 holds, and an ERA of 2.80, establishing himself as one of the best left-handed relievers in MLB. 슬롯