The Royals pulled catcher Martin Maldonado from their game Monday, likely because a deal is on the way. They’ve been “working on a trade” involving Maldonado with an unknown team, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. A trade is indeed “close,” Mark Feinsand of MLB.com adds on Twitter.
A former Brewer, Angel and Astro, Maldonado joined the Royals on a $2.5MM guarantee in free agency this past March. The signing came on the heels of Tommy John surgery for Royals starting catcher Salvador Perez, though the expectation then was that rebuilding Kansas City would move Maldonado sometime during the summer. The team previously did the same this past weekend with right-hander and fellow low-cost offseason pickup Homer Bailey, whom it flipped to Oakland for a prospect. Outfielders Billy Hamilton and Terrance Gore may soon follow Bailey and (seemingly) Maldonado out of town.
The Royals’ version of Maldonado has been close to the same player his previous teams got. Never much of a threat with the bat, the 32-year-old Maldonado has hit .224/.288/.359 (71 wRC+) with six home runs in 261 plate appearances. Maldonado has long been an exemplary defender, however, and he has continued to provide plus work behind the plate this year. Not only has Maldonado thrown out 33 percent of would-be base stealers, placing him 5 percent of the league average, but he’s Baseball Prospectus’ 18th-ranked catcher among 95 qualifiers in its Fielding Runs Above Average metric. Maldonado has been especially solid at blocking pitches, per BP. Unlike previous seasons, though, it grades him as a neutral pitch framer – not a standout.
Where to now for Maldonado? Not the Rangers, according to Jeffrey Flanagan and T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, even though they’re contenders whose catchers rank dead last in the majors in fWAR. Both the Cardinals (Yadier Molina) and Angels (Jonathan Lucroy) just lost their primary backstops to injuries that will cost them roughly three weeks apiece. Meanwhile, the Red Sox and Phillies are among buyers who haven’t gotten particularly good performances from their reserve catchers.
We get anything more than cash considerations and it’s a win.
Maldonado to the Rays for Wander Franco! The trade of the century!
You sure it’s just a one for one and the rays didn’t have to throw in McKay?
Only if we also throw in Billy Hamilton. 2 for 2.
That’s amusing. I’m thinking to the Cuba and free up Contreras to trade
And you are a troll. Contreras isn’t going anywhere.
…but he should. Guy is a great hitter, no question. And the value is huge. But the Cubs pitchers rely on location to be effective, and Contreras turns more strikes into balls than any catcher in the league.
Victor Cantani,Montgomery and so on for him,Kennedy and Hamilton?
No, he shouldn’t. You don’t like how he catches? Stick him in left then. He can play adequate defense out there. I guarantee you, he is not getting traded.
To the Cubs
Is that a fact. I’m the troll who Called the trade to the cubs. They obviously would only trade Contreras for a lead off CF stud or the like.
Could be Maybe Caritini is on the move too
Why would the Cubs trade someone who is basically been branded as one of their “core 4” with Bryant, Baez, and Rizzo? I wasn’t calling you a troll for saying he’d go to the Cubs. Although you said, “Cuba”. I was saying it because why would any Cubs fan who actually knows anything about this team, think they’d trade Contreras? Case and point.
The Cubs lead the league in called strike percentage.
If you’re a Cubs fan you want the cubs to lock up Contreas for 30 years. Not trade him for rentals. I bet you’re a Indians fan they jumped out during their win streak
Whoever gets him will be satisfied with the defense that’s for sure and Martin will be very happy to get the heck out of KC
If he gets traded to the Giants or the O’s.
I remember when he was lucroys backup in Milwaukee
Martin’s been waiting for this day since he inked the deal w KC
It is likely that Maldonado will be traded to the Athletics or Angels.
Not impossible, but we just did a deal with Oakland yesterday, you’d think they’d do it all at once *shrugs*
Very unlikely it the A’s. They are set with Phegley, Herrmann, Hundley and Taylor.
Wrong!
Angels? Cardinals? Cubs? Astros?
Cubs are the winners
Cubs it is!
Pirates make sense since Cervelli won’t be able to catch anymore. Angels just got their backup, so it’s not them.
Yes but he was Drafted by Angels the guy they just got but Martin M. has played on Angels before and Angels still in Wild Card hunt.
I’m thinking Braves, Dodgers or Padres
Braves?! Flowers and McCann are easily both better.
Angels, without a doubt.
Wrong!
Sad to see Maldonado go actually. Numbers might not show but he was very good for us
Solid defender but he’s been a black hole in the lineup offensively. Cam isn’t much better but if we can turn him into a warm body for depth in the farm system, we should take it and run.
Angels forsure
Back to the Astros.
Phillies were there scouting him
And could use Duffy,Bullpen piece,Hamilton.
Seeing lots of mentions of the Phillies on Twitter.
Back to Houston. Chirons and Maldonado not a bad tandem.
Please no more Stassi at bats. Please.
Secret team that could slide in and get him is the reds
Per Ken Rosenthal, it’s the Cubs
Per my inside sources…it’s not the Cubs.
Per ken Rosenthal it is
Cubs!
The Cubs it is
Twitter saying Mike Montgomery…. god I hope that’s not true…. I’d rather have cash considerations.
Too bad for you. Montgomery it is!
Diekman will be the next to go now that they have a new lefty.
You guys got Montgomery as your next rotation pitcher. There is a bigger trade being worked on w Cubs and royals. I’m sure it includes DFA Gore and Deikman. Possibly Merrifield
I like the deal for KC here. Monty is just as good of a rebound candidate as anyone. He shouldn’t require a substantial raise on his 2.44MM Arb salary and has backend starter upside. Could realistically fill Bailey’s role and provide another trade chip down the line. Or honestly by July 31 if he reels off 2-3 solid starts prior. (Though that’d Be an aggressive time frame) Not a bad gamble for 3 months of a guy who was going to walk in a couple months.