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Braves decline Travis d’Arnaud’s club option, making him free agent

Braves decline Travis d’Arnaud’s club option, making him free agent

Atlanta Braves decline Travis d’Arnaud’s 2023 club option

The Atlanta Braves have declined catcher Travis d’Arnaud’s $8 million club option for the 2023 season, making him a free agent, the team announced Friday.

D’Arnaud, 33, hit .269/.342/.470 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs in 113 games for the Braves last season. He also threw out 16 of 63 (25.4%) potential basestealers.

Braves’ catching situation in 2023

With d’Arnaud now a free agent, the Braves are left with Manny Piña and William Contreras as their only catchers on the 40-man roster.

Piña, 35, is a veteran catcher who has been with the Braves since 2021. He hit .274/.348/.450 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs in 95 games last season.

Contreras, 25, is a rising star who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a trade deadline deal last season. He hit .278/.356/.492 with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs in 114 games between the two teams last season.

The Braves could also look to add another catcher via free agency or trade, but Piña and Contreras are expected to be their primary catching tandem in 2023.