Manny Pina, a veteran catcher, was signed to a two-year, $8 million contract by the Braves on Monday. (Atlanta is one of the rare organizations that makes financial terms available to the public.)
Pina is expected to earn $3.5 million in 2022 and $4.5 million in 2023. A $4MM club option for the 2024 season is included in the contract, although it does not come with a buyout. Pina is a Rep 1 Baseball client.
Atlanta’s signing of another catcher comes as a mild surprise.
Late in the season, the Braves signed veteran Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year, $16MM contract, giving them an experienced option to bridge the gap between up-and-coming prospects William Contreras and Shea Langeliers.
Both Contreras and Langeliers now have seasoned barriers on the big league roster, thanks to Pina’s addition.
Langeliers, who has only played five games in Triple-A, wouldn’t have been a possibility until late in the 2022 season at the earliest, while Contreras has already seen action in the Majors and appeared to be a candidate to break camp with the team behind d’Arnaud next year.
Pina’s signing, on a two-year deal no less, makes that alignment improbable in the near future — unless the Braves decide to carry three catchers (which seems possible with the likely addition of a designated hitter in the National League).
The Braves’ improved organizational depth, on the other hand, shields them in the event that d’Arnaud suffers another injury, and it also allows the front office to be more open to trade possibilities involving their young backstops this winter.
How Old Is Manny Piña?
Manny Piña was born on June 5, 1987. He is 34 years old.