Thank you for everything, Travis.
Travis d’Arnaud, who spent the last five seasons with the Atlanta Braves and caught every postseason inning during the 2021 World Series run, has signed a two-year pact with the Los Angeles Angels worth $12 million.
OFFICIAL: The Angels have agreed to a two-year contract with C Travis d’Arnaud. pic.twitter.com/V1VFyyGxaK
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) November 12, 2024
The consensus around the Braves organization was d’Arnaud would return in 2025, so it was a pretty big surprise when the club opted to decline his option for $8 million. It didn’t take long for the veteran catcher to find a new home, reuniting with manager Ron Washington and GM Perry Minasian in Anaheim.
d’Arnaud was the ultimate professional in Atlanta. He earned rave reviews from his teammates, in particular the pitchers who he worked closest with. He hit a very respectable .251/.312/.443 (106 wRC+) across five seasons and nearly 1,500 plate appearances. He will be 36 on opening day and nearing the end of his playing days, so the $12 million guarantee is a nice grab for a player who certainly deserves it.
The Braves’ catching situation currently consists of Sean Murphy, Chadwick Tromp and top prospect Drake Baldwin. It remains to be seen if the club will add a backup behind Murphy or if they will roll with one of the internal options.