Veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart has opted for free agency, the Texas Rangers announced.
After being designated for assignment, Barnhart cleared waivers and chose not to accept a minor league assignment.
He’ll now explore opportunities with other teams around Major League Baseball.
Barnhart signed a minor league contract with the Rangers last December.
He began the season with Triple-A Round Rock and was called up to the majors in late April when Kyle Higashioka was placed on the injured list.
Even after Higashioka’s return, Barnhart remained on the roster but saw limited action.
In eight games for Texas, he went 3-for-13 (.231) with a .564 OPS. At Triple-A, he hit .246 with two home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .745 OPS over 20 games.
Originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Barnhart debuted in 2014 and spent eight seasons with the team.
He established himself as a dependable starting catcher, winning Gold Glove awards in 2017 and 2020.
During his time with the Reds, he recorded two double-digit home run seasons and drove in at least 40 runs in five campaigns.
He finished his Cincinnati tenure with a .248/.324/.371 slash line, 51 home runs, and 261 RBIs over 744 games.
Following the 2021 season, Barnhart was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he struggled offensively, hitting just .221 with a .554 OPS over 94 games.
He later had short stints with the Cubs, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rangers, and briefly returned to the Reds’ organization. Since the start of 2023, he’s appeared in 82 MLB games.
Now a free agent once again, Barnhart is seeking his next opportunity.
Over 920 career games, he owns a .241/.318/.351 line with 53 home runs, 292 RBIs, and a .669 OPS.
He’s expected to attract interest for a minor league deal and will aim to earn another shot in the majors.
