While the custom of  "promote him to get rid of him" has been a time-honored part of episcopal appointments in the past, Francis doesn't seem inclined to play that game. He has no problem skipping over likelier candidates to get the guys he wants.

Don't forget that Bob Barron had a national reputation long before he was appointed president-rector at Mundelein. Whatever else you can say about the guy, he is a gifted theologian and teacher. My guess is he was given auxiliary bishop status in the tradition of Fulton Sheen. It gives him a bit more prestige and visibility for his public speaking and writing without the responsibilities of diocesan administration.

I don't buy into the narrative that Francis and Barron are at odds, or even that Barron and Cupich were. It might make good gossip fodder, but I've never seen any convincing evidence of it.