It’s unfair to pass judgement on the value of Matt Barnes based on what he has produced in his brief major league career because the Boston Red Sox haven’t exactly been fair in how they’ve treated his career.
Barnes has spent the last two seasons bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen. Last year he made 32 appearances for the Red Sox, including 2 starts, while making 5 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket among his 17 minor league appearances. When the big league club needed reinforcements for their overworked bullpen, Barnes was there. When call-ups and injuries depleted Pawtucket’s rotation depth, Barnes filled in.