Red Sox Sign All-Star Closer Matt Barnes To Two-Year Contract Extension

The Red Sox want to ensure Matt Barnes is a fixture in their bullpen for at least a few more seasons.

Boston on Sunday signed the All-Star closer to a two-year contract extension. The deal includes a club option for the 2024 campaign.

Here’s the announcement:

Here to stay!

The #RedSox today signed RHP Matt Barnes to a two-year contract extension that spans the 2022-23 seasons, with a club option for 2024. pic.twitter.com/qHMrGPQMo8

— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 11, 2021

And here are the terms of the deal, per The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier:

Alex is of course correct. These are the terms of the Matt Barnes extension. Feels like a reasonable deal for both sides. https://t.co/iG48845oDz

— Chad Jennings (@chadjennings22) July 11, 2021

Barnes, a first-round pick in 2011, has developed into one of the more accomplished relievers in Red Sox history.

Check out this tweet from Red Sox Notes:

Since the start of 2016, Matt Barnes leads AL relievers in appearances (325).

As an All-Star in 2021, he is posting career bests in ERA, WHIP, opponent AVG, and K/BB ratio.

His 360 relief outings rank 4th in Sox history.

In 11 Postseason outings, he is 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA.

— Red Sox Notes (@SoxNotes) July 11, 2021

The 31-year-old has been especially good this season.

Solidifying the back of the Red Sox bullpen, Barnes entered play Sunday with a 2.68 ERA and 19 saves in 37 appearances. He posted 15.1 strikeouts per nine innings over the first 37 innings of his first All-Star campaign.

In his career, Barnes has a 3.94 ERA and 34 saves in 362 big league appearances.