Dodgers Roster Shuffle Made Simple: Landon Knack Returns, Charlie Barnes DFA’d

What Just Happened?

• The Los Angeles Dodgers (a big-league baseball team) announced they are bringing pitcher Landon Knack back from the 60-day injured list (a special list for players too hurt to play for at least 60 days).
• Knack has been out all year because he hurt a muscle on his side (called an oblique strain).
• He will take the bullpen spot (the group of relief pitchers who come in after the starter) of another right-handed pitcher, Kyle Hurt.
• To make room on the team’s protected 40-player list (the 40-man roster), left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment (a move that means “we are removing you from the main roster so we can trade, waive, or release you”).

Meet the Players (ELI5 Style)

Landon Knack: The Pitcher Coming Back

• Landon is a right-handed pitcher (throws with his right arm).
• He got hurt while trying to win a spot on the team for Opening Day (the first game of the season) during spring practice games.
• The side muscle injury kept him out for more than half of the regular season.
• Before returning, he played three “rehab appearances” (practice games to get back in shape) for the Dodgers’ top minor-league team, Triple-A (the level just below the big leagues). In his last game there, he pitched 3 innings and threw 63 pitches.
• Over the past two years, he has bounced between the big Dodgers team and the minors because the team had many injuries. He has filled in both as a starter (the pitcher who begins the game) and as a reliever (one who comes in later).
• In his first year (rookie campaign), he had a 3.65 ERA (Earned Run Average – a number that shows how many runs he lets the other team score per game; lower is better) and struck out about one batter per inning (he made batters miss three times per three outs).
• Last season, his ERA went up by a bit more than one run. In total with the Dodgers, he has started 19 games and come in as relief 6 times.

Kyle Hurt: The Pitcher Who Made Room

• Kyle is also a right-handed pitcher.
• On Friday, he unexpectedly started a game because superstar Shohei Ohtani was pulled out with a knee injury.
• Kyle threw 36 pitches (a season-high for him) against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Because he pitched that much, he probably needed a rest over the weekend, so the Dodgers brought in a “fresh arm” (a pitcher who hasn’t pitched recently).
• Kyle has been a dependable bullpen member, even pitching in high-pressure situations (the high-leverage mix). He has earned 8 holds (a stat given to a reliever who keeps the team’s lead and then passes the ball to another pitcher) and got his first big-league save (finishing a game to lock a win) in May.

Charlie Barnes: The Pitcher Who Lost His Spot

• Charlie is a left-handed pitcher.
• This is the second time this year he has been “designated for assignment” (DFA).
• Over the winter, he signed a minor-league deal (a contract to play in the minors) with the Chicago Cubs. They added him to their big roster in mid-April. He played one game, then was DFA’d in early May.
• The Dodgers picked him up off waivers (a system where teams can claim players other teams don’t want).
• After joining Los Angeles, he mostly played for their Triple-A team. Right after being acquired, he pitched two scoreless innings (no runs allowed), but was soon sent down.
• He was called back up on July 1, but in a game as a “bulk reliever” (pitching after a short-starting pitcher), he gave up 7 earned runs and was immediately sent back down.

Why Did the Dodgers Do This? (Step-by-Step)

1. Knack got healthy – After months off, the team said he’s ready to play again.
2. A roster spot was needed – Teams can only have 40 players on the main protected list.
3. Hurt needed rest – Since Hurt just pitched a lot, he couldn’t help for a few days, so his bullpen spot was temporarily given to Knack.
4. Barnes was DFA’d – To officially open the 40-man spot, Barnes was removed from the roster.

Important Points to Remember

• Landon Knack missed the entire start of the season due to a side muscle injury.
• Charlie Barnes has been DFA’d twice in 2026 (once by Cubs, once by Dodgers).
• The Dodgers have only five days to trade or waive Barnes. If he isn’t claimed, because he has been sent to the minors without being on the roster before (outrighted), he can say “no thanks” to a minor-league assignment and become a free agent.
• Barnes still has minor-league options, meaning normally teams could send him down without losing him, but his previous outright complicates that.

What Happens Next for Charlie Barnes?

• The Dodgers have a short to-do list:
  1. Try to trade him to another team within 5 days.
  2. Or place him on waivers (let other teams take him).
  3. If no team claims him, he can reject a minor-league assignment and become a free agent.
• Because he can pitch multiple innings and has options left, other teams might want him on the waiver wire or as a free agent.

Summary

The Dodgers welcomed back pitcher Landon Knack from a long side-muscle injury, temporarily replacing Kyle Hurt in the bullpen and designating Charlie Barnes for assignment to free up a roster spot. Knack had a good rookie year but missed half this season; Hurt has been reliable but needed rest; Barnes has bounced around teams and struggled in his recent Dodgers appearance. Barnes now faces a 5-day window to be traded or claimed, with the possibility of becoming a free agent. It’s a classic baseball game of musical chairs!

FAQ

Q1: What is the “injured list” in baseball?
A: Think of it as a sick bay. If a player is too hurt to play, they go on this list so the team can use someone else. The “60-day” version means they must stay off the field for at least 60 days.

Q2: What does “designated for assignment” (DFA) mean?
A: It’s like telling a player, “We don’t have space for you right now.” The team has 5 days to trade, waive, or release him. He’s off the 40-man roster during that time.

Q3: What is the bullpen?
A: The bullpen is the group of relief pitchers who wait on the sidelines and come into the game after the starting pitcher is done or needs help.

Q4: What are “minor-league options”?
A: Options are like coupons that let a team send a player to the minor leagues (the training level below the big show) without losing their rights to him. If a player has options left, they can be moved up and down more easily.

Q5: What is an ERA?
A: ERA stands for Earned Run Average. It tells you how many runs a pitcher normally gives up in a full game (9 innings). A lower ERA means the pitcher is doing a better job of stopping the other team from scoring.

Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images