Catcher Travis d’Arnaud has agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract to join the Los Angeles Angels as a veteran backup for Logan O’Hoppe.
The Angels made the announcement on Tuesday, adding their third veteran to the team this offseason.
D’Arnaud is a 12-year major league veteran from Long Beach, California, and spent the last five seasons with the Atlanta Braves. Last season, he played in 99 games for the Braves, hitting .238 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Atlanta had given him an $8 million salary this year but chose not to pick up his $8 million option for 2025.
D’Arnaud, who will turn 36 before next season, is expected to help mentor O’Hoppe while also serving as his backup. O’Hoppe, 24, is considered one of the most promising young players for the Angels.
He played 136 games last season, batting .244 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs. D’Arnaud should allow O’Hoppe to rest more next season, especially when the Angels face left-handed pitchers.
“Travis just stood out for us as someone who could not only play at a high level but also for his character,” said Angels general manager Perry Minasian. “He’s been on winning teams. He knows what winning teams do.
He has the ability to positively influence the locker room like few others. He’s great with young pitchers, the coaching staff, and the manager. He’s just an amazing person and a hometown guy who lives 25 minutes away.”
D’Arnaud will earn $6 million each year of his new deal. He won a World Series with the Braves in 2021 and was named an All-Star in 2022. D’Arnaud started his career with the New York Mets and also spent time with the Dodgers and Tampa Bay in 2019.
D’Arnaud has a strong relationship with Angels manager Ron Washington, who coached him during his time with the Braves.
In addition to D’Arnaud, the Angels have also acquired slugger Jorge Soler from the Braves in a trade and signed veteran reliever Kyle Hendricks earlier this offseason.
Minasian worked with Braves executive Alex Anthopoulos in Toronto and Atlanta before joining the Angels. The Angels had a tough season this year, finishing with a 99-loss record, the worst in franchise history.
To make room for D’Arnaud, the team designated right-hander Guillo Zuñiga for assignment. Minasian also mentioned that acquiring D’Arnaud doesn’t necessarily mean the Angels will part ways with backup catcher Matt Thaiss, who has also played other positions and was drafted by the team in the first round in 2016.
Additionally, Sal Fasano, a veteran major league catcher who played for the Anaheim Angels during their 2002 World Series championship season, has joined the team as an assistant pitching coach. Fasano spent the past eight years on the Braves’ coaching staff, working with their catchers.
