DEC. 23: The signing is now official, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com was among those to tweet.
DEC. 20: The Astros have agreed to a two-year deal to bring back catcher Martin Maldonado, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter). It includes a guaranteed $7MM for the MVP Sports Group client.
This is now the third time that the Astros have brought in Maldonado. After striking mid-season deals to acquire him in each of the past two campaigns, the Houston organization went ahead and committed to a full two-year term.
It’s possible the ’Stros are now set to move on from primary 2019 receiver Robinson Chirinos. The club already locked up Dustin Garneau to a cheap deal at the outset of the winter and has been looking for cost-efficient means of filling out a star-studded, increasingly expensive roster. Maldonado could’ve earned more from another team, per Feinsand, but preferred the comfort and opportunity available in Houston.
Maldonado, 33, has long been regarded as an excellent defender. The Baseball Prospectus grading system no longer values him as the top option behind the plate in all of baseball — as it did in 2017 — but still rates him as an above-average performer. Given today’s signing, and the evident interest from other clubs, it seems fair to presume that organizations around the game still hold Maldonado’s capabilities in the dark arts of catching in high esteem.
Achieving the benefits of Maldonado’s work on the defensive side of the spectrum has typically meant tolerating his efforts with the bat in hand. There have been a few relative peaks, but he has long been a subpar contributor on offense. Through over two thousand career plate appearances, Maldonado carries only a .219/.289/.355 batting line.
That’s more or less precisely what Maldonado did as a hitter in 2019. He finished with a 76 wRC+, just north of his lifetime 73 wRC+ mark. Maldonado did finish strong upon moving to the Astros, due largely to a power burst of questionable sustainability. Over 98 plate appearances in Houston, he slashed .202/.316/.464 with six home runs.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Freaking Angels miss again
Chirinos still available
odds are Castro heads to LAA while Chirinos returns to Texas.
Ugh.
I think it’s more notable that the Yankees didn’t get him. That was the assumption. They grossly over paid for Cole and couldn’t get his catcher to come along.
Was he really Coles “personal catcher” when they were only teammates for parts of 2 seasons in Houston? Seems to me like Cole pitched to a few catchers…
You need to check the stats of when Maldanado catches Cole vs any other catcher… Yankees messed up not signing Maldanado.
halo6219 – I should have said his “regular” catcher. I think there’s a comfort level there.
@jb19
How can the Yanks “mess up” on signing Maldanado? Maybe they made him a good offer and he simply choose to return to Houston? Or should they overpay to an extreme “juss cuz”? All I’m saying is, we don’t know what Maldanado’s preference was.
Maldonado caught him 10 times in 2018. In 2019 Cole pitched to “any other catcher” exclusively and posted career bests, often shattering his previous ones, in nearly every statistic (slight uptick in HR/9).
Cole should be thrilled to pitch to “Stone Hands” Sanchez.
@southbeach, I’m assuming Yankees did make an offer at the request of Cole. Pitchers are creatures of habit. No way 2/$10MM doesn’t get it done for Maldanado. You go get your ace’s preferred catcher. If that’s not the case, I would be surprised.
@Ontari, maldanado caught Cole the entire 2nd half of 2019… you know, when Cole was “shattering” records and the rest of the AL. Did you not see Astros trade for Maldanado after the AS break in 2019?
Yea, do a quick google search on the rumors and stats between Maldanado and Cole. Published as recently as last week……. Yankees messed up.
Same sample sizes or nothing though you should know this.
If you read the article he did not take the highest dollar offer because he wanted to catch for the Astros. Maybe NYY DID outbid the Astros.
If they weren’t going to 2.5 million to Austin Romine, they weren’t going to 3.5 to 5 million for Maldonado.
They paid what the market dictated. The three top guys got basically the same aav. So that’s what they’re worth.
Oh eph-you are so insightful. Your opinions don’t recognize that in a team like the Yankees there is no value in having a “personal catcher”.
Plus the guys real strength is in ganging garbage cans in his some stadium and well the Yankees don’t cheat.
Have fun watching home games in great seats now that fans are balking at paying high prices for a team full of cheaters.
65 – I think you mistook me for and Astros fan, I’m not. Have you polled the Astros fans to know they are balking at going to games?
I truly hope that one day you look back on this and realize how completely idiotic you sound.
Castro might be better than Maldonado.
True, but way higher injury risk.
Should never have gotten rid of him. Can’t believe they are missing out on everything this off season. Need a couple of quality starters? Let’s overpay for a 3B.
69th – I don’t think Rendon was an overpay. (Technically all athletes are overpaid, but that’s a different conversation.) . That was the market for a position player of his caliber and he has solidified an already solid Angels infield with tremendous flexibility. I think the Angels now have arguably the best defensive infield in baseball with the best player in baseball playing in center. The winter is young and there are solid arms still on the market in free agency and trade.
Where are the solid arms?
NOT on the Angels
65 – You should do your own research on what pitchers are on the trading block. What team are you a fan of? You obviously are not an Angels fan. But as a fan of baseball, what can the Angels do in your opinion for you to concede that they have a competitive team on the field?
@fighting69th
I hear ya, but Rendon is a heck of a 3B and top 5-10 hitter across several stats categories for all MLB. Trout/Rendon are arguably the top hitting duo in MLB, definitely top 3. Not too bad defensively either.
Still a chance they sign a Ryu or Keuchel, or make a trade for Boyd or Price.
also they could be working a Contreras trade to solve their Catcher issue.
Hey stool- those Pitchers are gone.
OR Maldonado maybe didn’t want to return?
Uhhh why? Maldonado is not Jt Realmuto lol. Much rather the Angels go after Danny Jansen, Jason Castro, or Chirinos.
Miss? Who the hell misses on Martin Maldonado? I can’t believe he got 2 years.
Mr 42-
He was promised his own (special sounding) garbage can cover.
It must be a sad life you life with no friends and all the time in the world to make lame garbage can jokes. Stick to your day job, off mooching off mommy and living in her basement as an adult. Blah blah trash can blah blah. You’re a joke
It’s getting ridiculous how bad their offseason has been.. need SP’s and a catcher? Cool! Let’s get an overpriced 3B! I’m a fan and super frustrated
Who is Gerrit Cole going to pitch to? Hopefully not Sanchez.
Romine managed the rotation better than Sanchez ever has. CC, Tanaka and David Robertson preferred for him to catch them. To name a few. But with Romine now with the Tigers, either Sanchez will improve his framing or Higashioka will have to learn the rotation fast.
Framing is the least of Sanchez’ shortcomings, he has stone hands, lacks the bend needed to block pitches in the dirt and his throws are inaccurate. In other words, as a catcher he makes a good DH.
Hello 27. We live in an imperfect world. Let’s talk about offense that offsets some of his defense.
Oh, I hear crickets.
Just like the ones that dominate the sound when we micro analyze your losing team that also lost out in Cole, is that right?
Swing and Miss.
Crickets.
How did you bolster your starting staff?
Crickets.
The guy is LA that now signed in TORONTO was your for the taking:
Swing and Miss.
Crickets
Well, Detroit would be happy to trade him back for G Sanchez. Lol
Oh throwinch-are you nuts or just a Yankee hater?
Thought he would follow Cole to the Yankees.
For what he got, I’d rather have Romine.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see Romine back with Yanks at trade deadline
dang crazy the saleries teams are giving out this year. no way this guy can barely find work last year and gets 7 now. someone is putting serious pressure on owners to give out money this offseason.
It’s 2/7m.
okay read it as 1/7. derp.
It’s a 2 year deal. 3.5 million a year is hardly a crazy salary
Makes sense. Defensive move. Sign GC’s personal catcher – remove him from the playoff equation.
oh he’ll be in the playoffs, just not with NYY. and im pretty sure Cole doesnt need a personal catcher. he has enough talent in his own right, and he’s not R.A. Dickey.
DarkSide830 Exactly, the Cole personal catcher narrative is being pushed too hard. He’s a great pitcher. Boston and Houston fans might be desperate to convince themselves otherwise, but Cole will be great with or without Maldonado.
Of course he’s not, because his best pitch is not a knuckleball and he doesn’t totally look like the Burger King, which Dickey does.
Love it! Good teams just make good moves to better themselves.
Not a good argument to make for the Astros, Shane.
Thank God the Angels didn’t sign him. This guy was out of baseball last year until Perez got hurt. Nobody wanted him.
Huh??
In 2019 He was on KC, CHC, HOU. 101 games total. (Reg sea)
Not until Salvador Perez went down. He was looking for a job two weeks into spring training. Nobody wanted him.
That’s unequivocally false. He turned down a 2 year 12 M pact from the Astros. So clearly somebody wanted lol, hey look at that he was even traded for. He was never going to go unsigned. The guy wasn’t out of baseball he waiting for a payday that wasn’t coming after he turned down a pretty good offer.
That’s unequivocally false? He was unemployed until March 11th, two weeks after spring training started and was signed by KC after Perez got hurt.
You think he was sitting on his hands two weeks into spring training by choice?
he signed before the season started. that’s more than many good players could say the past few offseasons.
It was because he wanted a starting job and no one was able to give him one until the Kansas City job opened up… It’s not like no one wanted him… Everybody wants him come playoff time they just don’t view him as an every day starter because of his offense. Hes hands down my favorite player and in the top five defensive catcherS in baseball
And his paycheck was cut by a third. He wasn’t in spring training by choice.
Maybe Murphi. The only team he was even linked to was the Mets and his salary was cut by a third.
Fine, that’s one interpretation. But even if that’s a correct one, I’m very happy the Angels didn’t sign a starting catcher who no one wanted to start for them last year.
I don’t think you understand how free agency or the baseball market works. And if he wasnt in spring training by choice then why was he there? By force? LOL
I know how it works. Players coveted players don’t wait until spring training to sign at a more than 30 percent pay cut.
If you think that, then you don’t know how it works.
If you are waiting for a guaranteed starting job, you do. It’s called holding out to get what you want. Ultimately he landed the starting job he wanted where as he would’ve been a back up anywhere else. It’s common sense.
And did you miss my response to that? I’ll put it again.
Fine, that’s one interpretation. But even if that’s a correct one, I’m very happy the Angels didn’t sign a starting catcher who no one wanted to start for them last year.
You should watch more baseball
The Cubs wanted him badly last offseason as a back to Contreras, but he wanted to be a primary catcher. Many teams wanted him last yr as a platoon catcher or backup but he wanted to start. The narrative “nobody” wanted him last yr is completely untrue.
And he was so coveted by teams that the Cubs got Tony Kemp for him.
And he was so coveted he signed two weeks into spring training.
And he was so coveted his salary was cut by a third.
And as you said, no one wanted him as a starter. I’m thrilled the Angels didn’t sign him.
Did you run out of things to write?
He was sitting on his hands two weeks into spring training and took a substantial pay cut, and your best response is nobody wanted him as a starter. I’m glad he’s not starting on the Angels.
You should have better points.
You don’t understand the market or team needs. Or negotiation strategy. He got just what he wanted last year and this year
Good job Pirates. Another one gone.
Stallings was just as good as Maldonado defensively last season. Plus, anyone can play to Maldonado’s level offensively.
Stallings is fine for a back-up.
Maldonado has an excellent track record defensively. For a rebuilding team at a very affordable price, I’d much rather bat him eighth and let Stallings back him up.
I think it’s a matter of no one really wanting to go play for that franchise anymore. The powers that be have destroyed the reputation of the franchise and everyone can see it.
It didn’t have to be Maldonado. Lots of catchers were available. Plus… There were a number of other low cost players the Pirates could have attempted to add with upside on short term deals.. if they play well, you can flip them for pieces at the deadline as you’re in rebuild mode, if they don’t play well, you didn’t lose much.
Bell, Marte, Frazier and Kela all need to be shipped out for quality, not quantity. Sign short term deals to replace Bell (I.e. Matt Adams—- or Smoak (gone now) Ryon Healy (also gone and also plays third and could’ve platooned with Moran)). The list goes on.
But you gotta trade the guys while they still have their value.
SS/2B – Newman
SS/2B – Cole Tucker or Kevin Kramer
CF – Bryan Reynolds
RF – Gregory Polanco
1B – Matt Adams or Mitch Moreland or Logan MorrisonWill Craig
3B – KeBryan Hayes/Colin Moran
LF – sign Corey Dickerson, Leonys Martin or Steven Souza or BBC a plethora of other stop gap options
C – Weiters or whoever is left (Chirinos (won’t get), John Ryan Murphy, Lucroy, etc.)
of course, cheaters stay together!
Yeah that cheating helped his batting stats really explode
Heck, there are players who use PEDs just to barely play in MLB. Any little edge can help. Stolen signs included.
He was in the MLB before and after the Astros, so he didn’t need any of Michael’s Secret Stuff to play in the bigs. His batting stats also didn’t improve in Houston despite this spy network of flashing lights and whistling and acoustics, which is what I was getting at.
watching him play for the Royals last year I was very impressed. when Salvy went down his defensive didn’t let the Royals down at all. he even had a little pop with the stick. overall good catcher
If I am not mistaken, Toronto has some solid catchers available to the Halos in a potential trade
In hindsight they’ve given up Patrick Sandoval, Tony Kemp, international signing bonus $ and now signed him for 2/$7M all in the past 2+ years haha. I know at this point the prior trades don’t mean anything at all but I’m just saying from a broad view of things – they’ve really given up quite a bit all just to get a backup catcher that hits around .200 with average (at best) power. But at least this year they aren’t making the mistake of not signing him so they don’t have to worry about giving up another prospect at the deadline for him — they’ll already have him come this July! haha
Sandoval wasn’t a big name and still isn’t, Tony Kemp was DFA’d so he was leaving either way, and they tried to sign him for something 2/12 before 2019 and his agent (maybe Boras?) turned it down. He has helped along a few young pitchers so far. So they were pretty rabid about him and think he’s valuable. They have a solid lineup so can probably get away with the 9-spot being a hole for a year.
The only people saying the Yankees messed up by not getting this back up catcher are Angel’s fans who are still butt hurt that their team signed a 3B when they needed starting pitching very badly. But hey you guys got Dylan Bundy so there’s that. Too bad Trout can’t pitch but he sure can cash those paychecks though.