The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Travis d’Arnaud to a one-year contract and optioned Matt Beaty to Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the San Diego Padres. d’Arnaud, who will wear No. 72, gives the Dodgers three catchers on their active roster.
Though, like Austin Barnes and Russell Martin, d’Arnaud can play the infield, and outfield as well. The New York Mets designated the 30-year-old for assignment one week ago, then released him on Friday.
The 2019 season has been a difficult one for d’Arnaud as he was working to return from Tommy John surgery that cost him nearly all of 2018. He appeared in just five games for the Mets this year, going 3-for-21 with a double and RBI.
d’Arnaud’s abrupt end to his tenure with the Mets was somewhat of a surprise. The club tendered him a contract during the offseason and the two sides came to terms on a one-year, $3.51 million deal.
The Long Beach, Calif., native, was selected in the first round (37th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Beaty returns to Oklahoma City after a thrilling few days with the Dodgers. He made his MLB debut the day of joining the club in San Francisco and recorded his first hit in that same game.
Saturday saw Beaty drive in a run with a pinch-hit single, giving him his first career RBI. Beaty planned to give the ball to his parents as a keepsake. Beaty appeared in three of the four games he was with the Dodgers.
“Just trying to pick every guy’s brain,” he said of his time up in the Majors. Soak it in and approach anybody that’s willing to talk to me.”
