If you just looked at on-field production, you might think Austin Barnes isn’t a very important member of the Dodgers. On the offensive side of the game, he has been remarkably consistent, but not really in a good way: His OPS+ the last five years has been between 72 an 84, and his OPS between .619 and .667. He is consistently well below average at hitting.
But Austin Barnes still brings two very important things to the table for Los Angeles: He’s an excellent defensive catcher, and he is a key element of the Dodgers’ clubhouse leadership.