Scott Barlow
#58 RP · Athletics
Height
6'3"
Weight
210 lbs
Age
33
College
N/A
Draft
2011, Rd 6, #194
Experience
8 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
C+
B-
D
N/A
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The Verdict on Scott, in One Read
On the field, Scott Barlow grades out as a strong RP for Athletics (B- Performance). That places him 199th of 389 graded relief pitchers. The contract is harder to defend: the Contract Value Index calls it fairly priced (C+), with the cost outrunning the output. The public read is negative (D Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsB-
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 463 | 3.5724235 | 30-24 | 557 | 1.2618384 | 0.0 | 59 |
| 2026 | | 29 | 3.54 | 1-0 | 23 | 1.07 | 28.0 | 2 |
| 2025 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$2.0M
Guaranteed
$1.2M
AAV
$2.0M/yr
Guaranteed %60%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
C+
Fair Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Earning a C+ Contract Value Index, Scott Barlow's 1-year pact reflects the Athletics' read on the free-agent market. At $2M AAV, this is a low-commitment deal for a 33-year-old right-hander with eight years of professional experience, and it aligns neatly with his B- performance grade—solid, reliable work that doesn't demand star-tier compensation. Barlow carries veteran credibility after his long career arc, but at this stage, the Athletics are clearly positioning him as depth and leadership presence rather than a cornerstone bullpen piece; the media framing bears this out, emphasizing his stabilizing role in a transitional roster over any expectation of high-leverage dominance. The one-year structure eliminates long-term commitment risk and signals Oakland's flexibility as they shuffle the bullpen alongside recent acquisitions, allowing them to evaluate Barlow's fit without tying up future cap space. If Barlow carves out a defined closer role as the regular season winds down over the next 132 days, the narrative could shift upward, but for now, the CVI grade reflects what this contract actually is: a pragmatic veteran minimum for a capable but unspectacular piece in a rebuilding bullpen.
Performance Analysis
B-
FCA+
Stacked against the RP field, Scott Barlow grades out at a B- performance level for the Athletics. At 33 years old, Barlow is operating as an established veteran in a transitional roster context—the Athletics' recent flurry of trades and signings (Michael Stefanic, Junior Perez, Austin Wynns, Brooks Kriske) has scattered organizational attention across multiple depth additions, leaving him functioning as a credible anchor in the late-inning bullpen shuffle rather than a headline acquisition. The media frames his role accurately: experienced leader for a rebuilding team, not a high-leverage closer or organizational centerpiece, though there's a modest undercurrent of "should be in the closer mix" talk that suggests his on-field production is outpacing the muted narrative around his signing. His B- grade indicates solid, reliable work—the kind of veteran depth you want when the lineup is in flux—but he's operating in a context where enthusiasm is measured and expectations are anchored to stability rather than star performance. With 131 days remaining in the regular season and the Athletics sitting as the AL West's #3 seed at 23-23, Barlow's defined high-leverage role could crystallize if the roster shuffles settle, but for now he remains a calibrated, depth-focused read on a 33-year-old arm providing professional competence in a transitional team environment.
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Scott's contract sits relative to comparable money.
How Scott Compares at the Position
Scott Barlow ranks 199th of 389 graded relief pitchers by performance. That slots Scott between Angel Zerpa (B-) just ahead and Trevor Martin (B-) just behind.
Graded higher
Angel ZerpaBrewersB-Hogan HarrisAthleticsB-Enyel DE Los SantosAstrosB-Scott BarlowB-
Graded lower
Trevor MartinRaysTransaction History
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About this player
Scott Barlow is a veteran in his 8th MLB season listed at RP for the Athletics. FanVerdicts covers every MLB player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Scott Barlow, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index C+, Performance B-, Sentiment D.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when MLB game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the MLB hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The MLB player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.
