Jacob Barnes DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Toronto Blue Jays announced earlier this week that they signed free-agent right-hander Jacob Barnes to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Barnes heads to the American League East after appearing in 63 games out of the bullpen for the Washington Nationals in 2024. He went 8-3 in his 66 innings while also posting a 4.36 ERA (4.38 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 20 free passes allowed. The 34-year-old will now compete for a bullpen role for Toronto to open the 2025 regular season, but he's more likely to begin the season with Triple-A Buffalo. Barnes was originally a 14th-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011 out of Florida Gulf Coast University. He made his MLB debut with Milwaukee in 2016 and has a career 4.68 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with seven saves in nine big-league campaigns.