Barney played second and third base Saturday against the Phillies, going 0-for-2 with two flyouts.

EDGE Analysis

Barney started the game at the hot corner, but replaced Ryan Goins at second base in the fourth inning. One of the two infielders is expected to start at second to open the season while Devon Travis (knee) continues falling behind his recover schedule. Goins was the starter to open 2016, but Barney outplayed his counterpart -- much like he is this spring -- and never looked back. The 31-year-old Barney is 5-for-16 (.313) with an RBI and two runs through his first seven Grapefruit League games.

Barney is expected to remain the team's reserve utility man in 2017, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barney enjoyed a surprising 2016 campaign, slashing .269/.322/.373 while playing in 104 games, his most since 2013 with the Cubs. After narrowly making the Opening Day roster last season, the versatile 31-year-old usurped Ryan Goins for the team's backup role, sending the latter to the minors, and saw playing time at four different positions. Barney's position eligibility makes him an attractive option in daily formats.

Barney inked a one-year, $2.8875 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Barney has secured a hefty pay raise from the $1 million contract he was offered last season thanks to a .269/.322/.373 batting line while serving as a utility player for the club last season. It will probably be a similar campaign for the veteran in 2017 and he will enter the season with eligibility at second base, third base and shortstop in most standard leagues.

The Blue Jays are undecided on whether to retain Barney, who is eligible for arbitration, for the 2017 season, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Teams have until Friday at 11:59 PM to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players. Toronto has four players who fall into that category, but Barney appears to be the only one whose status remains in question. Barney is projected to earn $1.6 million next season, but that number seems a little low. The 31-year-old made $1 million in 2016 after he signed with the club as a free agent, but he was eligible for arbitration in 2015 and earned $2.5 million. The utility man played several positions and slashed .269/.297/.373 over 104 games for the Jays in 2016, well above his career line of .249/.297/.343.

Barney, who was hit hard in the head Friday, will be available off the bench for Saturday's contest against the Angels, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The utility infielder does not appear to be showing any ill effects from a collision he had at second base during Friday's 5-0 victory over the Angels. Barney was picked off in the top of the third inning and while sliding into second, his head slammed into the knee of shortstop Andrelton Simmons. That created some concerns about a possible concussion, but he appears to be fine moving forward.

Barney, making a rare start in place of Josh Donaldson (rest) at third, went 0-for-2 Monday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Barney, who became a routine starter on the Jays' injury-plagued infield during the first half of the season, has seen his playing time take a huge hit in the second half. With a relatively healthy roster around him for the first time year, Barney has received just five at-bats in the team's last 13 games. Overall, the 30-year-old is hitting .200 in 80 at-bats since the All-Star break, a major dip from the .296 average Barney posted in 186 at-bats prior to the Mid-Summer Classic.

Barney (personal) rejoined the team and is available off the bench for Saturday's game against the Rays, Sportsnet's Barry Davis reports.

EDGE Analysis

He was placed on the family medical emergency list on Wednesday, but is back with the team to serve in his typical role off the bench. Devon Travis and Troy Tulowitzki should continue to serve as the Blue Jays' go-to double-play combination, but Barney is a capable of filling in defensively at either spot.

Barney was placed on the family medical emergency list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The team has yet to say how long Barney will be away from the team, but more information regarding his eventual return should be known in the coming days. Ryan Goins was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to fill in during Barney's absence.

Barney will leave the team Wednesday for personal reasons, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ryan Goins has been summoned from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Barney. It's uncertain how long Barney will be gone but there has been no indication that he will be away for more than a few days.

Barney's sixth-inning solo homer in Friday's blowout win over the Twins was his first since back on June 5 versus the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

The second baseman had been mired in a long-ball drought of epic proportions before Friday's round-tripper, which came in a game where Barney also collected a double and scored two runs overall. He's tallied four multi-hit efforts over his last seven games, but is still hitting just .240 over 50 August at-bats.