2 Miami Marlins offseason additions we should already be worried about

2. RP MATT BARNES

There was an interesting trade between the Miami Marlins and the Boston Red Sox earlier during the off-season. It wasn't as historic as another trade between these two teams... The Miami Marlins acquired relief pitcher Matt Barnes. Matt Barnes is a high risk high reward reliever who can either be the next Miami Marlins closer or a frustrating reliever who you're wondering why he's pitching in late innings at all.

Matt Barnes is a high risk high reward relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins.

Matt Barnes is 32 years old and is a right-handed relief pitcher. Barnes debuted in the Major Leagues in 2014 with the Boston Red Sox. In that 2014 season, Barnes pitched in 5 games and 9 innings, delivering a 4.00 ERA/3.47 FIP with 8.0 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9. This was very promising, especially the strikeout rate and the FIP. In 2015, Barnes pitched in 32 games (with 2 of them being starts) and delivered a 5.44 ERA/5.23 FIP with 8.2 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. This was obviously a letdown.

In 2016, he pitched in 62 games and 66.2 innings, producing a 4.05 ERA/3.72 FIP with 9.6 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9. This was an improvement, but not a big enough one, so the question remained if he could ever get back to his previous form. The walk rate especially was very alarming.

From 2017-2022 he delivered a 3.88 ERA/3.35 FIP with 12.6 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 330 games and 313.0 innings pitched. It's clear that the strikeout rate and FIP are impressive, but the walk rate and ERA are not. He currently has a 4.91 ERA in Spring Training. I'm concerned that he will blow leads and do more harm than good if he can't get his walks under con