Rays acquire catcher Travis dĄŻArnaud from Dodgers
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.ĄŞThe Tampa Bay Rays have acquired catcher Travis dĄŻArnaud (dahr-NOH) from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Matt Duffy (left hamstring tightness) was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list. A corresponding move to the active roster will be announced later.
dĄŻArnaud, 30, began the season with the New York Mets, returning from Tommy John surgery, and was designated for assignment on April 28 after a 2-for-23 start through 10 games (five starts). On May 5, he was signed to a major league contract by the Dodgers and grounded out in his only at-bat with the club, as a pinch-hitter last night against the Washington Nationals. His season debut this year marked his first game in the majors since April 8, 2018 at Washington, when he suffered a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
In 2017, dĄŻArnaud hit .244/.293/.443 (85-for-348) with 16 home runs and 57 RBI in 112 games (90 starts). His 16 home runs were the most by a Mets catcher since Mike Piazza (19) in 2005, and they tied for sixth among National League catchers.
dĄŻArnaud was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round (37th overall) of the 2007 June Draft out of Lakewood High School in 2007. Before reaching the majors, he was part of two major trades, being sent from the Phillies to the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2009 in the Roy Halladay trade and from Blue Jays to the Mets in December 2012 in the R.A. Dickey trade. He made his major league debut on August 17, 2013, and in his first six seasons in the majors (2013-18), all with the Mets, hit .245/.306/.406 (327-for-1,337) with 65 doubles, five triples, 47 HR and 162 RBI in 397 games (362 starts).
As a minor leaguer, dĄŻArnaud was ranked by Baseball America as a Top 100 prospect in baseball for five consecutive seasons (2009-13), including No. 17 entering the 2012 season. He is a career .290/.351/.481 (611-for-2,109) hitter with 162 doubles, seven triples, 76 home runs and 341 RBI over parts of 12 minor league seasons.