Former Braves All-Star catcher Travis d’Arnaud has a new home.
D’Arnaud has agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract to join the Los Angeles Angels. the team announced on Tuesday.
D’Arnaud joins the Angels after a five-year stint in Atlanta that included an All-Star nod in 2022. He won a Silver Slugger award in 2020 in his first season with the Braves.
D’Arnaud, 35, is a 12-year MLB veteran. He was the Braves’ primary catcher for most of the past five seasons, including during their run to the World Series championship in 2021. He hit two home runs during Atlanta’s World Series win over the Houston Astros.
Although his production has dipped from his All-Star and Silver Slugger campaigns, he remained a valuable member of the lineup in Atlanta last season. In 99 games, d’Arnaud slashed .238/.302/.436 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI. In his five seasons in Atlanta, d’Arnaud slashed .251/.312/.443 with 60 home runs and 207 RBI.
Former Gold Glove winner and 2023 All-Star Sean Murphy has split time with d’Arnaud at catcher since joining the Braves in 2023. He will probably get more time behind the plate now that d’Arnaud is gone.
D’Arnaud joins a platoon in Los Angeles that includes 24-year-old Logan O’Hoppe, who hit .244/.303/.409 with 20 home runs and 56 RBI in 136 games last season.
