The Atlanta Braves have signed catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $16 million contract extension.
The atlanta baseball team announced that they have given the contract extension to Travis d’Arnaud.
The Atlanta Braves and catcher Travis d’Arnaud have agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract agreement that guarantees his return in 2022, as well as a club option to extend the pact for a third season.
After missing more than three months due to a thumb injury, D’Arnaud just returned to the first-place Braves. The contract includes a $8 million club option for 2024 with no buyout, which was revealed on Friday.
Before the commencement of a weekend series in Baltimore, the Braves completed the contract. They’ve won 13 of their last 15 games to take a four-game lead in the National League East, including a season-high six-game winning streak.
D’Arnaud, 32, is having a good year. In 23 games, he batted.223 with three home runs and 15 RBIs, but the Braves are hoping he can recapture the form he exhibited in his debut season with the team in 2020. Last season, D’Arnaud hit.321 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs, earning him the NL Silver Slugger Award as the best hitter at his position and helping the Braves capture their third consecutive NL East championship.
Alex Anthopoulos, general manager, stated, “He wanted to remain here, and we wanted him to stay.” “It’s a perfect match.”
After tearing a ligament in his left thumb while making a tag in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 1, D’Arnaud required surgery.
The Braves cycled through five catchers during d’Arnaud’s absence, with little success. The 23-year-old William Contreras received the first go at stepping in replacing d’Arnaud, but he struggled throughout his time as the starter.
Even before d’Arnaud recovered from his injury, Contreras was sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett, putting the job in the hands of a rotating door of journeymen, including Stephen Vogt and the since-released Kevan Smith.
The acquisition of d’Arnaud, according to Anthopoulos, allows prospects like Contreras and Shea Langeliers — the No. 9 overall selection in 2019 who is presently at Double-A Mississippi — to grow without being hurried to the majors.
“Contreras and Langeliers have a lot of potential. They’ll both be All-Stars at some time, I believe “According to Anthopoulos. “But there’s a lot more to that job than just kicking them out. It all comes down to planning and having players on the mound that believe in you. At that level, experience and references are very important.”
Last year, the Braves were one game away from winning the World Series after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. In 12 playoff games, D’Arnaud had two home runs and ten RBIs.
After resurrecting his career in Tampa Bay, he signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Braves before of the 2020 season.
After a short run with the Los Angeles Dodgers, D’Arnaud was released by the New York Mets early in the 2019 season and traded to Tampa Bay. In 92 games with the Rays, he hit.263 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs.
D’Arnaud will contribute 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation as part of his new contract.
Other Braves players, according to Anthopoulos, have a similar provision in their contracts, but it has never been made public. He felt it was past time to acknowledge his players’ contributions to the community.
“This is where we call home. This location is important to us “According to Anthopoulos. “I believe the more exposure we can bring to it, and knowing the players are doing their part, the better.”
This article was written with the help of the Associated Press.
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