The Los Angeles Angels continued to be busy in the early part of the offseason. The franchise announced on Tuesday that it had come to an agreement with free agent veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
The Angels didn’t disclose the financial details of the deal, but multiple reports indicate that d’Arnaud will earn $12 million during the duration of his two-year contract. The one-time All-Star hit the free agency market after the Atlanta Braves declined a $8 million option for 2025 on his deal.
“Travis just really stuck out for us — someone that can not only play at a high level, but the makeup is off the charts,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said after the move became official. “He’s a winner. He’s played on a ton of winning teams. He knows what winning teams do.”
d’Arnaud is coming off a season in which he played 99 games for the Braves and batted .238 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs. He is expected to serve as a backup and mentor to the Angels’ highly-rated catcher, Logan O’Hoppe.
“I think it’s going to be great for a guy like Logan, who’s coming into his own, to have somebody with him as part of that tandem. To have somebody with him like a Travis d’Arnaud, that will really help his career moving forward,” Minasian added.
d’Arnaud spent the last five seasons with the Braves, playing the best baseball of his career. He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2020, became a World Series champion in 2021, and received his first and only All-Star nod in 2022. Prior to that, he also played with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays.
