The Los Angeles Dodgers made a move to shore up their depth at catcher this weekend, signing former Mets backstop Travis d’Arnaud to a one-year contract.
d’Arnaud was released by the New York Mets last month after getting off to a 2-23 start at the plate. The 30-year-old catcher spent the better part of four seasons as New York’s primary catcher before undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.
The catcher, once considered one of the best prospects in all of baseball, hit 47 home runs and batted .242 in 407 career games with the Mets. Despite a solid career, d’Arnaud has never quite lived up to his top prospect billing.
Nonetheless, the Dodgers are happy to add the California native at a position where they have doubts. After the off-season departure of former starter Yasmani Grandal to Milwaukee, the Dodgers currently have Austin Barnes and Russell Martin splitting time at the position.
Both Barnes, hitting .220 with 4 home runs, and Martin, .231 and one 1 home run, haven’t gotten off to a hot start in their new roles.
The Dodgers may yet give a chance to d’Arnaud to show what he can do as the team’s backstop. At worst, he will be a decent bench option that gives LA a solid defensive catcher as well as a right-handed bat.
