The Atlanta Braves signed veteran catcher Manny Pina to a two-year, $8-million contract, they announced Monday.
Pina will earn $3.5 million in 2022 and $4.5 million in 2023. His deal also contains a 2024 club option worth $4 million, with no buyout attached.
The 34-year-old spent the last six campaigns with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he served as both a starter and backup. Pina is primarily known for his excellent defense; he's tallied 37 defensive runs saved and thrown out 35% of would-be base-stealers over his eight big-league seasons while allowing just 11 passed balls.
Pina is a lifetime .245/.314/.413 hitter with 42 home runs and 146 RBIs in 409 big-league games. In 2021, he posted a .732 OPS with a career-best 13 homers and 33 RBIs across 208 plate appearances while tallying seven defensive runs saved and throwing out 11 of 26 runners attempting to steal.
In Atlanta, he'll likely serve as a backup to Travis d'Arnaud and provide some much-needed depth behind the plate. A rash of injuries forced the Braves to use seven different catchers last season.