The Atlanta Braves have signed veteran catcher Manny Pina to a two-year contract. It’s worth $8 million with a $4 million option for a third season. The agreement includes no buyout and will have 1% of Pina’s salary donated to the Atlanta Braves Foundation each season. It comes on the heels of last year’s re-signing primary catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a two-year deal. The 34-year-old Pina has spent the previous six years of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He is well known for his defensive prowess, throwing out 29.7% of potential base stealers in 2021. His power at the plate came to light a little more as well, with 13 home runs. In fact, according to the press release, he had an HR/AB ratio of 13.85. It’s the ninth-best in the National League for players with at least 200 plate appearances.
Manny Pina’s Career
The Texas Rangers signed Manny Pina before the 2005 season. Unfortunately, he did not make much of an impression and never made the big leagues with the club. In 2009, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals. Two years later, he finally got the call to the big leagues. He only received a taste of major league action before being put on paternity leave and heading back to the minors after that. After only appearing in one big-league game in 2012, he became a free agent. He re-signed with the Royals but spent 2013 in the minor leagues.
Once more a free agent, he then signed with the Seattle Mariners. However, he never made it to the major leagues with them. Mid-way through 2014, he was in a trade that saw him go to the Detroit Tigers, but the situation remained the same. Then, at the end of 2015, the Tigers traded him to the Brewers to complete a deal for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez. In Milwaukee, Manny Pina experienced his most tremendous success, becoming a mainstay of the roster.
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