The Atlanta Braves have signed free agent catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $14 million contract, shoring up the situation at one of the positions at which the team had the most question marks heading into the offseason.
The Braves, who were affected by the retirement of 2019 part-time catcher Brian McCann, have now completed a catching tandem that will be occupied by d’Arnaud and Tyler Flowers, who has spent the past two seasons with the team.
d’Arnaud’s 2019 season was unconventional, to say the least. The California native started off the season with the New York Mets, for whom he had played since 2013. He was released by the team on May 3rd.
After a brief stint with the Dodgers, the veteran catcher then headed to Tampa Bay, where he broke out. The 30-year-old signal-caller ended up hitting .251 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI on the season.
His solid defense and league-average bat made d’Arnaud a hot candidate for contending teams, and it didn’t take him long to find a new home. In Atlanta, d’Arnaud is expected to split time behind the dish with Tyler Flowers.
A former division rival, d’Arnaud will now join the Braves as they look to compete for a World Series trophy in 2020.
