Barmes went 1-for-2 Monday against Cincinnati, blasting his first home run of the spring. Barmes is batting .242 with eight strikeouts and three walks in 33 at-bats this spring. He was brought in on a one-year deal in the offseason to compete with Alexi Amarista for the starting shortstop role. As spring training has gone on, Amarista has emerged as the likely starter shortstop on Opening Day while Barmes is projected to fill in as a utility infielder off the Padres' bench.

Barmes signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Barmes' bat certainly didn't earn him this contract -- he's a .246/.295/.380 career hitter at the major league level -- rather it was his quality glove at the middle-infield positions. The Padres have a need at shortstop with Everth Cabrera non-tendered, and Barmes' experience and defensive abilities likely give him the inside track at the regular job, but he'll have to fight off Alexi Amarista in spring training.

Barmes (groin) was reinstated from the DL and recalled Monday. Barmes will come up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was rehabbing the strained groin that cost him seven weeks. Barmes, who hasn't played since June 29, is hitting .239 with four RBI and 18 strikeouts in 88 at-bats this season. In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh designated Jayson Nix for assignment.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said that Barmes (groin) might be able to rejoin the team during the upcoming series against the Cardinals, the Associated Press reports. If Barmes is ready to return this week, he'll reprise his role as a spot starter at shortstop behind Jordy Mercer, but that role will afford him with very few chances to accrue at-bats.

Barmes (groin) moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Barmes will be eligible to return from the DL whenever he's deemed ready, but because he's missed the last six weeks with a groin strain, a lengthy rehab assignment will be required. The Pirates expect to have him back at some point in late-August.

Barmes (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Wednesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Manager Clint Hurdle stopped short of saying Barmes will need to go through a spring training-length rehab stint, but the team will take things slowly with the middle infielder. Barmes is expected to also spend time playing for Triple-A Indy before making his return to the majors in late August.

Pirates placed SS Clint Barmes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 30, with a Grade 3 adductor sprain. Barmes hasn't played for a week, so he apparently had been holding out hope that the ailment would get better. He's expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. Michael Martinez has replaced Barmes on the roster.

Clint Barmes went 4-for-5 with a run scored in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Reds. He was also hit by a pitch in the game-winning rally in the 12th inning. Barmes had three singles and a double, notching his first four-hit game since May 30, 2009. The 35-year-old managed to improve his batting average from .227 to .263 in just one day. We're not counting on many big days moving forward.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Friday that Clint Barmes will see time at second base and third base this spring as he prepares for his new utility role. The Pirates are intent on handing the starting shortstop position to Jordy Mercer for 2014, which shifts the defensive-minded Barmes into a utility role. Since Barmes offered very little with the bat anyways, he can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes.

Pirates signed SS Clint Barmes to a one-year, $2 million contract. The slick fielding 34-year-old shortstop will serve as a backup to Jody Mercer in 2014. He's irrelevant in all but the very deepest of NL-only formats.