Matt Barnes reinstated from the COVID list

Prior to Tuesday’s series-opening loss in Detroit, the Red Sox got some more bad news when they had to put Matt Barnes on the COVID list. The good news was that the closer hadn’t actually tested positive, and was in fact vaccinated, but he was just not feeling well and the team had to sit him out as they awaited test results. Those results came back negative last night, and as expected he is being reactivated to the roster prior to Wednesday’s game. As we laid out for the expected move in the linked post above, Jonathan Araúz was optioned back down to Triple-A to clear the necessary room on the active roster.

Getting Barnes back is obviously a big deal, though with the team not winning it’s not as though he’s been getting much work lately anyway. Barnes hasn’t appeared in a game since July 28. Even if the losing streak continues, or more positively if they snap the streak in a game that is not a save situation, it would not be too surprising to see Barnes get into one of these last two games in Detroit. He needs the work.

As for Araúz, he got into three games in this latest stint that started last Friday, his second stint in the majors this year. The infielder went 2-6 with a pair of singles, a walk, and two strikeouts. In Triple-A Worcester this year, he is hitting .224/.315/.355 in 213 plate appearances.