The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Travis d’Arnaud to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. The veteran provides needed help at catcher in the wake of injuries to Michael Pérez and Mike Zunino.
The trade adds to what’s been a bit of a whirlwind for d’Arnaud. He was designated for assignment and released May 3 after clearing waivers. It came as somewhat of a surprise considering the Mets tendered him a contract over the winter and agreed to a $3.51 million deal.
d’Arnaud latched on with the Dodgers two days later, signing a one-year contract. His addition to their roster was not in response to Austin Barnes or Russell Martin suffering an injury, but rather to give them a third catcher with versatility.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the club intended to utilize d’Arnaud for spot starts at first base and left field. He received pregame work at both positions over the past week, and Roberts recently said he was encouraged by the early results.
d’Arnaud has never played first base or left field in his professional career. Other than catcher, he’s only spent one game (3.1 innings) at second base and made one start at third (5.2 innings), both of which came in 2017.
d’Arnaud logged at-bats in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium and made just one pinch-hit appearance during his time with the Dodgers.
He’s looking to get on track and overcome what’s been a sluggish start to the 2019 season. d’Arnaud appeared in five games for the Mets prior to being released, going 3-for-21 with one double and RBI.
The Long Beach, Calif., native, was selected in the first round (37th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s returning after essentially missing all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery.
