The Los Angeles Dodgers lower two of their longest-tenured gamers within the span of every week. Backup catcher Austin Barnes was designated for project, and utility man Chris Taylor was launched.
Extra information: Teoscar Hernandez Makes Dave Roberts Look Genius as Dodgers Supervisor Praises Star Outfielder
The Dodgers made it clear the participant cuts had been a enterprise determination amid a decent NL West race. Each veterans had been used sparingly this season.
This season, Barnes was slashing .214/.233/.286 with two RBIs and an OPS of .518 throughout 44 plate appearances. The backstop performed in simply 13 video games.
Taylor obtained 35 plate appearances, going 7-for-35 with 13 strikeouts this season. He appeared in 28 of the Dodgers’ 46 video games in 2025.
Whereas the Dodgers’ determination to half methods with Barnes and Taylor made sense, Freddie Freeman defined how emotional their departures have been for the crew.
“It’s like – there’s a card group of men on the aircraft. Austin was one in all them. Now Kirby Yates is on the IL. That’s one other one which’s not going to journey,” Freeman mentioned to Invoice Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “Lots of people don’t perceive, there’s quite a lot of issues that go on. Shedding individuals over the course of a yr, it stinks.”
Freeman understands that the truth of baseball is the departure of longtime mates; nonetheless, the Dodgers’ prime precedence stays successful.
“It does suck. There’s no approach round it,” Freeman mentioned. “When you say you’re not unhappy once you lose mates, you’re not a human. You simply get going. You’re going to be slightly unhappy however that may’t be the rationale you go 0 for 4 now.”
“It’s onerous. It truly is. However you do perceive that it’s a enterprise and it’s a must to maintain going,” he continued.
“While you do lose two revered veterans within the clubhouse, you’ve received to be a grown boy and perceive the reasoning. You could be unhappy that you simply misplaced a good friend – you may nonetheless keep up a correspondence with that good friend. However we’ve received to maintain going. I feel we’ve received an excellent group of men that can maintain this machine going.”
Extra information: Dodgers’ Chris Taylor Wished Alternative Elsewhere, Dave Roberts Opens Up on Launch
Photograph Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities
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