Barnette (back) pitched on consecutive days for Double-A Frisco on Thursday and Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnette has been out since the final half of spring training dealing with back stiffness. Having a reliever pitch on consecutive days is one of the final boxes to check before having him return to active duty, so we should expect to see him back with the Rangers in short order. Barnette declared himself "willing and able" to be activated off the 10-day disabled list.

Barnette (back) threw 24 pitches Monday in an exhibition for Double-A Frisco, and is scheduled to pitch both Thursday and Friday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnette hasn't suffered any setbacks during his throwing sessions, so he'll pitch in back-to-back outings later in the week to see if he feels good enough to head to the big leagues. He's been recovering from a back injury sustained during spring training, and is expected to sit near the middle of the bullpen for the Rangers once healthy.

Barnette (back) will throw a simulated game Friday at Triple-A Round Rock, Levi Weaver of The Athletic Dallasreports.

EDGE Analysis

Rehabbing from a back injury, Barnette will take the next step towards being activated with a sim game Friday. Depending on how his back responds to the increased workload, Barnette could progress to game action at the Triple-A level next week. Barnette will likely assume a low-leverage middle-relief role once he's healthy and activated.

Barnette (back) will open the regular season on the disabled list, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnette has not thrown in a game since March 13, but did throw a bullpen session Saturday. While he's getting close to a return, the Rangers felt Barnette would not have enough time to get ready for the regular season.

Barnette (back) said the he "doesn't know" if he will be cleared prior to Opening Day, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnette was scratched from Monday's expected Cactus League appearance and has yet to resume throwing off a mound since. The right-hander remains hopeful that he will be healthy before Texas begins the regular season against the Astros on Thursday, and commented that his back felt better after a few days of rest.

Barnette was scratched from Monday's spring game due to lower-back tightness, Levi Weaver of The Athletic Dallas reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barnette was expected to start Monday's Cactus League contest against the Rockies before the injury cropped up. The severity of the issue remains unclear at this point, but more will hopefully be known following the conclusion of Monday's spring game. Consider him day-to-day for now.

Barnette signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Rangers on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Barnette will return to the Rangers at a cheaper price after the team declined his $4 million option for the 2018 season in November. The 34-year-old reliever has made 50 appearances for Texas in each of the past two seasons, and despite struggling in 2017, he still owns a 3.69 FIP and 106:38 K:BB across 117.2 innings of work over that stretch. He'll likely fill a middle relief role to open the 2018 season, though given the lack of bullpen depth the Rangers currently have, Barnette could easily earn a higher-leverage role if he's able to regain his 2016 form.

The Rangers turned down Barnette's team option for the 2018 season Monday, making him a free agent.

EDGE Analysis

Barnette was a liability on the mound during the 2017 season. Over 50 games (57.1 innings) he threw for a 5.49 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Opponents hit Barnette with ease, as batters owned a .281 batting average with him on the mound. Barnette pieced together a 2.09 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 53 games (60.1 innings) in 2016, so he does carry some upside. However, with his recent struggles, Barnette may need to use spring training to show he's deserving of a spot in a team's major-league bullpen.

Barnette ceded five runs on four hits and one walk and a wild pitch while retiring just one batter in Wednesday's 12-2 loss to the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

With just five runs allowed over his previous 13 appearances combined, Barnette squandered much of the goodwill he'd built up by imploding in grand fashion Wednesday. Two of the four hits he allowed were home runs, and his rough showing effectively ended any hope the Rangers had of mounting a comeback. The blowup now increased Barnette's ERA to 5.49 over 57.1 innings of the season, and couldn't have come at a worse time with the offseason approaching. Barnette's contract contains a $4 million club option for 2018, and it's unclear at this point if the Rangers would be interested in retaining his rights.

Barnette retired only two of four batters faced, but kept the Mariners off the board Tuesday during the Rangers' 3-1 win.

EDGE Analysis

Entering the contest in the seventh inning with one out and nobody on, Barnette immediately put himself into hot water by loading the bases with a walk and back-to-back base hits. Fortunately, he was able to escape the inning unscathed by picking Yonder Alonso off third base, then coaxing a lineout from Ben Gamel. Barnette has yielded just one run in his last nine appearances and seems to have established himself as one of manager Jeff Banister's most trusted late-inning options.