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With starting second baseman Devon Travis expected to miss most of spring training with his injuy and the loss of Cliff Pennington to free agency (having signed a two-year deal with the Angels last month), the Blue Jays have re-signed Darwin Barney to add depth to their major league roster according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. SB Nation's Chris Cotillo confirmed the signing and added that it was a one-year pact.
Sources: #BlueJays and INF Darwin Barney have agreement on major-league deal pending physical.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) December 9, 2015
Source confirms: Blue Jays in agreement on one-year, major-league deal with Darwin Barney. @ShiDavidi first.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 9, 2015
The 30-year-old Barney, as you might remember, spent 15 games with the Blue Jays last season. In that time he had 26 plate appearances with a small-sample slash line of .304/.333/.609 with two home runs... Two home runs? Really? Does anyone remember those? Huh... It appears one of those was in the second game of the doubleheader in Baltimore, a game no one really remembers because the Jays had clinched after the first game--but, it still count!
For his career, Barney has a .246/.294/.339 line (71 wRC+) but is mostly known as a defensive wizard as a Gold Glove-winning second baseman who is also capable of playing shortstop and third base.
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro appeared on Sportsnet minutes after the reports to not so much deny, but slow the wheels of this rumour, saying that the deal is not done until the medicals are done and the contract is signed, implying that the deal might be in place (as reported) but has not been finalized.