Angels Sign d'Arnaud in Strategic Offseason Moves

The Los Angeles Angels have signed veteran catcher Travis d'Arnaud to a two-year, $12 million contract after the Atlanta Braves declined to pick up his option, marking another significant move in their aggressive offseason strategy. d'Arnaud, a former All-Star and Silver Slugger, will likely serve as a backup to Logan O'Hoppe, a promising young catcher who had a strong 2024 season. The Angels have also added Kyle Hendricks and traded for Jorge Soler, aiming to improve after a disappointing 63-99 record last year. d'Arnaud expressed his gratitude to Atlanta in a farewell message and looks forward to reuniting with former Braves assistant and current Angels manager Ron Washington. Despite being 36, d'Arnaud brings valuable experience to the Angels, who are attempting to build a competitive team around stars like Mike Trout and a young core. This signing is part of a broader strategy to avoid tanking and remain competitive, with the Angels' payroll now approaching $170 million.