Barajas served as the interim manager for the San Diego Padres after Andy Green's firing on September 21, 2019.

As a player in Major League Baseball (MLB), he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

He played for the Lethbridge Black Diamonds of the Pioneer League (Rk), the lowest level of the minors as a rookie, but excelled, hitting .337 in 51 games.

[2] He hit his first career home run in the last game of the season on October 3, 1999, against the San Diego Padres, a line-drive to left-center field off of Heath Murray.

[4] Barajas struggled at the plate in 2001, hitting just .160 in 51 games, though he only committed one error while serving as a backup for Damian Miller.

In January 2004, the Texas Rangers signed Barajas to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

At the end of the season, he established career highs in games played (108), home runs (15), RBIs (58), and batting average (.249).

[7] On December 18, 2006, it was announced that he had reached an agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies for a one-year, $2.5 million deal, worth less than half of the Blue Jays' offer a month earlier.

[8] On January 24, 2008, Barajas signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, the team he backed out of a contract with the previous off-season, this time as the backup to incumbent catcher Gregg Zaun.

Zaun was supposed to be the starting catcher, but due to his poor offensive numbers and overall difficulties, manager Cito Gaston made Barajas the starter after he took over for John Gibbons, and he continued in that role in 2009.

[4] On February 24, 2010, Barajas signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the New York Mets and was named the opening day catcher.

[12] In his first game with Los Angeles against the Milwaukee Brewers, Barajas hit two doubles and a three-run home run.

[25] On November 27, 2022, Barajas was hired by the Miami Marlins to serve as the team's quality assurance coach for the 2023 season.

[30] He and his wife Stacie have four sons, Andrew, Bryce, Rod Jr. and Jace, and four daughters, Aunalilia, Aubrielle, Starlette and Emiko.