Matt Barnes has announced his retirement from baseball after 11 seasons in the big leagues, bringing an end to a career that included nine years with the Red Sox, an All-Star selection in 2021 and a role in Boston's 2018 World Series run.
Barnes made the announcement Sunday on Instagram, writing that there was not a single part of his baseball career he would change. He said baseball allowed him to live out a dream and thanked the Red Sox organization for believing in a kid from Connecticut and giving him the chance to wear one of the sport's most iconic uniforms.
Selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Barnes reached Boston in 2014 as a September callup and eventually became a fixture in the bullpen. His best season came in 2021, when he made the All-Star team and finished with a 3.75 ERA over 60 appearances.
Barnes also played for the Marlins and Nationals after leaving Boston. His final stretch in the majors included a designation for assignment before the 2023 season and another early in the 2024 season, after which he elected free agency and did not sign with another team.
What Barnes meant to Boston
For the Red Sox, Barnes' retirement closes the book on a pitcher who spent the first nine seasons of his MLB career in Boston and was part of one of the franchise's defining recent moments. Barnes said the 2018 World Series title and his time at Fenway Park will stay with him for the rest of his life.
In his retirement message, Barnes also thanked his family, saying their sacrifices and support made everything possible. Two weeks ago, Barnes and Chelsea posted a sonogram photo announcing another child was on the way, giving the retirement news a personal backdrop as one chapter ends and another begins.
Barnes leaves MLB with a career that spanned 11 years, several team changes and one clear through line: he made the most of the opportunity that began when Boston called his name in 2011. He closed his message by saying baseball will always be part of who he is, even as he looks ahead to what's next.
