Jacob Barnes joins Blue Jays for 2025 season

Jacob Barnes, a former Detroit Tigers reliever, has earned a spot on the Toronto Blue Jays' Opening Day roster. This marks his 10th season in Major League Baseball as he prepares to turn 35 next month. The Blue Jays announced his selection on Sunday, following a successful spring training as a non-roster invitee on a minor-league contract. Barnes has pitched for nine different big-league teams over his career. This will be his second time with the Blue Jays. In 2022, he made the Tigers' Opening Day roster but was designated for assignment in June after a performance that included a 6.10 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings. After leaving the Tigers, Barnes briefly joined the Seattle Mariners and later returned to the Tigers' minor league team, the Toledo Mud Hens. He then signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees and received a short promotion to the major leagues at the end of 2022. In 2023, he played for three different teams and made appearances with the St. Louis Cardinals. Last season, Barnes had a successful run with the Washington Nationals. He played in 63 games and finished with an 8-3 record and a 4.36 ERA. He struck out 55 batters while allowing 20 walks during 66 innings pitched. Barnes was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011 and spent four seasons with them.