Cubs send infielder Barney to Dodgers
CHICAGO -- Manager Rick Renteria predicted that Darwin Barney would land on his feet after being designated for assignment, and the second baseman did just that.
On Monday the Cubs traded the 2012 Gold Glover and a cash consideration to the Dodgers for a player to be named. The Dodgers will reportedly pay $500,000 of the money remaining on Barney's contract. About one-third of the $2.3 million deal remains.
"Good for him," Renteria said of the trade. "He was going to land on his feet. It's tough at the moment when change occurs, but we've been in this game a long time, and he's been around a while and done well. He's landed with a club now, and hopefully, it goes well for him."
Barney, 28, was designated for assignment on July 22 after batting .230 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 16 RBIs in 72 games for the Cubs. The team had recalled Arismendy Alcantara from Triple-A Iowa when Barney was placed on paternity leave on July 9 and decided to keep the rookie infielder after Emilio Bonifacio was activated from the disabled list on July 22.
"In terms of moving forward, we have a lot of young men coming through the system, and as an organization we felt at this particular time it was the right time to move forward," Renteria said.
Since making his big league debut with the Cubs in 2010, Barney batted .244 with 88 doubles, 18 home runs and 146 RBIs in 542 games. He won the 2012 National League Gold Glove after tying a Major League single-season record with 141 consecutive errorless games at second base.
"[Barney] is a professional. We're always going to respect what he brings to the table," Renteria said. "If we ever cross paths on the other side of the field, we'll respect him."
The Cubs actually will cross paths with Barney this weekend, when they travel to Los Angeles to play a three-game series against the Dodgers.
Los Angeles was looking for infield depth, particularly at shortstop, where Miguel Rojas has been the backup and a late-inning replacement for Hanley Ramirez.