Cubs place reliever Tony Barnette on restricted list as he contemplates future

Reliever Tony Barnette has made just two appearances in a Cubs uniform, but his future with the team is now in question.

Monday, general manager Jed Hoyer told reporters in Pittsburgh that the Cubs placed Barnette on the restricted list. Hoyer said that Barnette is “reevaluating things with his family right now,” according to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney.

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer confirms reliever Tony Barnette is on the restricted list/off the 40-man roster and away from the Triple-A Iowa club: “Tony is sort of reevaluating things with his family right now.”
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 1, 2019

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer on Tony Barnette: “He’s trying to figure out the next step. We’re certainly willing to give him the time to do that. He’s a pro and a really good dude. He’s at that point in his career where he wants to think things over.”
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 1, 2019

Barnette, 35, signed a one-year deal with the Cubs in the offseason, but he missed the start of the 2019 season with right shoulder inflammation. Based on Hoyer’s quotes, it’s possible that Barnette is evaluating whether he wants to pitch in the minor leagues at this stage of his career.

The Cubs called Barnette up on June 23 after he threw 9 1/3 straight scoreless innings with Triple-A Iowa. After allowing a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings, the Cubs sent Barnette back to Iowa on June 27. He spent the 2016-18 seasons with the Rangers after pitching in Japan from 2010-15.

With Barnette on the restricted list, the Cubs now have two open spots on their 40-man roster.