Travis d’Arnaud is headed west.
The former Mets catcher became one of the first shoes to drop in MLB free agency this winter, signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angles Angels on Tuesday.
D’Arnaud, 36, became a free agent earlier this month after the Braves declined a one-year, $8 million option for the 2025 season.
The veteran backstop hit .238/.302/.436 with 15 home runs in 341 plate appearances for Atlanta in 2024 while splitting time behind the plate with Sean Murphy.
“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 on Tuesday, per ESPN. “He’s a winner. He’s played on a ton of winning teams. He knows what winning teams do. He’s got the ability to affect the locker room in as positive of a way as anybody I’ve ever been around.
“He’s great with young pitching. He’s great with coaching staffs. He’s great with managers. He’s just an awesome guy. Hometown guy who lives 25 minutes away and really wanted to be here.”
D’Arnaud is expected to serve as the backup to Logan O’Hoppe, who established himself as one of the best young catchers in baseball last season.
The Angels are also expected to bring in d’Arnaud’s catching coach, Sal Fasano, as an assistant pitching coach.
The move continues what has been a busy offseason for the Angels.
Coming off a 99-loss 2024 campaign, the organization traded for veteran slugger Jorge Soler and signed longtime Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks to a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
D’Arnaud spent the first six-plus seasons of his big league career with the Mets, finishing seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2014.
Since being released by the team in 2019, d’Arnaud has tormented the Mets, hitting .307/.376/.488 with five home runs in 141 plate appearances against his former team.
