San Diego Padres catcher Martin Maldonado has been told he will make the team's Opening Day roster after signing with the team on a minor-league deal before spring training. The veteran catcher makes his contributions on defense and by working with the pitching staff, but he doesn't bring much offense at all. He earned the respect of the staff and coaches for his work early in spring training, but he went just 2-for-22 with four walks at the plate. Last season, the 38-year-old hit only .119 in 48 games for the White Sox after hitting .191 in 116 games for the Astros in 2023. The Padres are ready to start the year with him as the primary backup for Elias Diaz, but he's far from being fantasy-relevant since he brings so little potential offense.
According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres have signed catcher Martin Maldonado to a minor-league deal that contains an invite to spring training. The 38-year-old opened the 2024 season with the White Sox but held a disappointing .119/.174/.230 line through 48 games before being released. Under the hood, he generated a low .222 xwOBA and .288 xSLG. Across 117 games with the Astros during the 2023 season, the backstop held a .191/.258/.348 with 15 home runs. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress during spring training as he could have an outside chance of making the Opening Day roster as the Padres only have two catchers on their current roster, Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan. Sullivan posted a poor .188 AVG across a small stint in the majors last season, which could open the door for Maldonado to operate as the No.2 option.
Free-agent veteran catcher Martin Maldonado has made it clear that he wants to play one more year of professional baseball. Maldonado has never been much of an offensive force in his 14-year major-league career, but he's excellent defensively and knows how to get the most out of a team's pitching staff. However, with age, even his defensive skills have cratered in recent seasons. He spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Chicago White Sox and slashed a pathetic .119/.174/.230 with four home runs, 11 RBI and nine runs scored in only 48 games played before being released in July. The 38-year-old Puerto Rican backstop will most likely have to settle for a minor-league deal this offseason if he wants to keep playing in 2025. If Maldonado signs somewhere, he'll merely be competing for a backup role for playing time.
The Chicago White Sox designated veteran catcher Martin Maldonado for assignment on Wednesday, according to sources. With Maldonado now gone and likely to pass through waivers unclaimed to become a free agent, Korey Lee is currently the only backstop on the team's active roster as we get set for the start of the second half of the season this weekend. The 37-year-old Maldonado hit a dreadful .119/.174/.230 with four home runs, 11 RBI and nine runs scored in 147 trips to the plate over 48 games for the White Sox in 2024 before getting cut this week. If he does latch on with another team, it might have to be on a minor-league deal given the fact that he hasn't had a batting average over .200 since 2020 with the Houston Astros, when he hit .215 with six homers and 24 RBI in the COVID-shortened campaign.
White Sox, Martin Maldonado Reportedly Agree To One-Year Deal
The Chicago White Sox have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal plus an option with veteran free-agent catcher Martin Maldonado. The team has not confirmed the deal. Known for his defensive prowess and pitching management, the 37-year-old spent the last six seasons with the Astros and owns a career .207/.282/.349 slash line over 13 seasons. Maldonado worked with White Sox manager Pedro Grifol in Kansas City during the 2019 season and will now come in to help manage a young pitching staff. While this move should help the White Sox this season, Maldonado's lack of offensive production gives him little relevancy in fantasy.
Martin Maldonado Drawing Interest From Several Teams
Free-agent veteran catcher Martin Maldonado is drawing interest from the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, and Chicago White Sox, per the Athletic's Chandler Rome. The 37-year-old spent the last four full seasons with the Astros. However, the team reportedly signed Victor Caratini Tuesday, which would suggest there will not be a reunion for the Astros and Maldonado. Known for his defense and pitcher management, Maldonado slashed .191/.258/.348 with 15 home runs and 36 RBI in 407 plate appearances in 2023. His skill set will likely land him a backup role with a new team, but it does not lend itself to fantasy.
Martin Maldonado Drawing Interest From Multiple Teams
Free-agent catcher Martin Maldonado is reportedly getting interest from multiple teams. The 37-year-old already has 4 or 5 teams looking at him and the offseason just started. It's worth noting that the Astros have already said they plan to bring back Maldonado. However, the veteran backstop does have plenty of options if he decides to head elsewhere. Last season, Maldonado hit .191/.258/.348 with 15 homers and 36 RBI over 407 plate appearances. He struggles at the plate, but is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. His defense and ability to call a game behind the plate make him extremely valuable despite his struggles at the plate. The veteran catcher should have no problem finding a team this offseason.
Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado is on the bench to start Monday's game against Patrick Sandoval and the Los Angeles Angels. The veteran continues to be a quality defender and leader behind the plate but is struggling on the offensive side of the ball so far this season. The glove-first backstop is hitting just .171 with one home run and a .496 OPS across 87 trips to the plate while striking out in 27.6% of them. He's picked it up a little bit over his last five games as he's collected five hits with a double in that time but also went hitless in his previous eight contests. Yainer Diaz will catch and bat eighth against Sandoval Monday night in Los Angeles.
Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado is doing the catching and is hitting ninth in Game 5 of the World Series on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Noah Syndergaard. Maldonado got to rest on Wednesday in Game 4 with Christian Vazquez getting the start behind the dish. The 36-year-old veteran Puerto Rican backstop is more known for his work defensively, and he's hitting .217 (5-for-23) with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, two walks and 10 strikeouts in nine games this postseason. In his three starts in the World Series, Maldonado has gone 2-for-9 with an RBI and three strikeouts.
Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado and outfielder/designated hitter Trey Mancini will start Game 4 of the World Series on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies on the bench. Christian Vazquez will do the catching and hit seventh, while Yordan Alvarez is serving as the designated hitter and batting third against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. Maldonado started the first three games of the World Series and went 2-for-9 with an RBI and three strikeouts at the plate. He has five hits in 23 at-bats with two RBI and two runs scored in nine playoff games this year. Mancini has only appeared in six games this postseason and is without a hit in 17 at-bats with six strikeouts. He has really struggled in Houston since being acquired from the Orioles in August.
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