The Los Angeles Angels recently signed veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $12 million contract, though they weren’t the only team interested in his services. With a limited market for quality catchers this offseason, d’Arnaud was one of the top available options. Along with the Angels, the Tampa Bay Rays also expressed interest in signing him, according to Marc Topkin of the *Tampa Bay Times*.

The 35-year-old d’Arnaud has a history with the Rays, having spent nearly a full season with the team after being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers in May 2019. During that 2019 campaign, d’Arnaud played in 92 games, hitting .263/.323/.459 with 86 hits, 16 home runs, 50 runs, and a career-high 67 RBIs. After his stint in Tampa Bay, he signed with the Atlanta Braves, where he spent the last five seasons of his career.

D’Arnaud’s time in Atlanta was marked by some of the best performances of his career. In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he hit a career-high .321, belted nine home runs, and drove in 34 RBIs, earning his first Silver Slugger award.

Despite missing time in 2021 due to a 60-day injury list stint, d’Arnaud played a key role in the Braves’ World Series win that year, even hitting a home run in the championship series against the Houston Astros.

In 2022, d’Arnaud was named an All-Star after hitting a career-high 18 home runs. However, with the Braves acquiring Sean Murphy, d’Arnaud’s role became more of a platoon, and the Braves ultimately declined his 2025 option.

Though d’Arnaud became a free agent, he opted not to return to the Rays, instead reuniting with Angels manager Ron Washington, who had been the third-base coach for the Braves before taking over as the Angels’ manager.

While the Angels already have a promising young catcher in Logan O’Hoppe, d’Arnaud will serve as a backup and mentor for O’Hoppe over the next two seasons. This move provides the Angels with a seasoned veteran to help guide their developing catcher and strengthen their roster behind the plate.