Travis

d'Arnaud

The veteran catcher played in 92 games for the Rays during the 2019 campaign where he slashed .263/.323/.459 with 16 long balls and 67 RBI. While they were unsuccessful in bringing him back, it shows that the Rays are looking to improve behind the plate. Expect them to continue to explore the free agent market and the trade front for upgrades at the position.

The deal is now official. It’s a decent landing spot for d’Arnaud, who launched 15 homers in 99 contests last year for the Braves. The 35-year-old veteran backstop, who hit free agency last week after Atlanta declined his $8 million club option for 2025, figures to serve as starter Logan O’Hoppe’s primary caddy in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, his official departure paves a clear path for top prospect Drake Baldwin, who has looked impressive recently in the Arizona Fall League, to potentially make Atlanta’s season-opening roster.

Atlanta declined d’Arnaud’s $8 million club option for 2024, and while the veteran catcher won’t get quite as much in 2025, he secures a multi-year deal with a (relatively) similar AAV. he hit .238/.302/.436 with 15 homers last year while spelling Sean Murphy and seeing time as the designated hitter. With Logan O’Hoppe behind the plate, Murphy will likely see a similar role with the Angels, and while his eligibility behind the plate makes him a decent option, he’s not joining a lineup that’s going to provide much chance for quality run production.

Considering Sean Murphy battled a wrist injury and put together a poor 2024 season, it’s surprising that the club would let d’Arnaud move on. However, the 25-year-old did hit just .238/.302/.436 with 15 home runs in 99 games, so perhaps the Braves feel that they can get that production elsewhere. There is still a chance the Braves could try to bring d’Arnaud back later in the offseason, but this could also be good news for Braves catching prospect Drake Baldwin, who is coming off a strong season and could be on the MLB roster next season.

Ozuna’s $16 million option had become an easy call, and expectations were always that d’Arnaud would be back, whether it was through the $8 million option year or not. Bummer was the tougher call at $7.25 million. He pitched 55 1/3 innings with a 3.58 ERA this year.

With two games on tap, it’s highly likely the Braves will have Sean Murphy catch game two, but it will be d’Arnaud, who hit a walk-off home run on Saturday night, who gets the start in game one. The rest of the Braves lineup is exactly as it has been for the last week.

It’s always big to hit a walk-off homer. To hit one in the second-to-last game when your team is battling for a playoff spot? Little different. It has not been the best year for d’Arnaud, but he has shown there’s still pop in his bat with 15 homers, and this one should count for six if the world was fair. Atlanta has total control of its destiny for earning one of the final two spots in the Wild Card round.

With Travis d’Arnaud back from the Paternity List, the Braves will send Tromp back to the minors. The 29-year-old was up with the big league team for three days but didn’t appear in any games.

d’Arnaud was put on the Paternity List on Monday, but he’ll move right back into a timeshare with Sean Murphy, who went just 2-for-17 with one home run and four RBI while starting the last four games. Chadwick Tromp was sent to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

D’Arnaud could miss the next three games and return after the off day Thursday. Sean Murphy is catching for the Braves tonight, and Chadwick Tromp was recalled to serve as the backup.