The Los Angeles Angels have signed veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $12 million deal. D’Arnaud will serve as the primary backup to Logan O’Hoppe, with the Angels hoping his mentorship can help the young starter. The soon-to-be 36-year-old was an All-Star in 2022 and has a solid track record over the last five seasons, batting .251 with 60 homers and 207 RBIs. General manager Perry Minasian praised d’Arnaud’s playing ability and leadership qualities, calling him a winner.
D’Arnaud, a Long Beach, Calif., native, was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007 and has since played for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. He reunites with Minasian, who was with Toronto and Atlanta during his time with those teams. In addition to signing d’Arnaud, the Angels have hired Sal Fasano, d’Arnaud’s former catching coach in Atlanta, as an assistant pitching coach.
The addition of d’Arnaud and Fasano continues a trend of the Angels bringing in personnel from the Braves organization. This move may also have implications for Matt Thaiss, the Angels’ current backup catcher. Thaiss could potentially move to a different position or be traded as the Angels may carry three catchers. The Angels have been active in shoring up their coaching staff and roster ahead of the upcoming season.
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