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Martin Maldonado Reportedly Drawing Interest From Several Teams

By Nick Deeds | November 11, 2023 at 7:29pm CDT

Veteran catcher Martin Maldonado has been a staple of the Astros lineup in recent years, joining the club as a part-time option behind the plate in deadline deals during both the 2018 and 2019 seasons before sticking in Houston as the club’s primary catcher for the 2020-23 campaigns. Now, however, the 37-year-old veteran is a free agent for the first time since the 2019-20 offseason as the Astros plan to pivot to youngster Yainer Diaz as their primary catcher for the 2024 season.

While Maldonado is out of the starting role in Houston, he’s already drawing plenty of interest on the open market per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, who reports that “4-5 teams” have checked in on the veteran already this offseason. Presumably, one of those clubs is the Astros themselves, as the two sides reportedly have mutual interest in a reunion even as Maldonado would consequently take a smaller role with the club going forward in deference to Diaz.

A 27th-round pick by the Angels in the 2004 draft, Maldonado has never been particularly outstanding with the bat. Since making his major league debut with the Brewers back in 2011, Maldonado has never posted above average offensive numbers by measure of wRC+ in a 162-game season, though he did manage a 107 wRC+ during the shortened 2020 campaign. He fell back to Earth in the following three seasons, however, slashing just .183/.260/.333 (66 wRC+) with a 31.5% strikeout rate in 355 games. Despite those offensive deficiencies, however, has generally been regarded as among the best defensive catchers in the game throughout his career.

That stellar defense took a major hit in 2023, as Statcast placed Maldonado in the first percentile among all catchers with -18 framing runs this season, after years of the metric regarding him as slightly below average at pitch framing, with -1 to -2 framing runs per year. Those iffy framing numbers were more than made up for in the past by Maldonado’s throwing arm behind the plate and blocking abilities, but those metrics dipped in 2023 as well. While the differences were only slight, they exacerbated his struggles with pitch framing in 2023 to leave him worth -1.2 fWAR this season, a bottom-five figure in the majors among players with at least 300 plate appearances this season.

Dire as those numbers look, it’s still reasonable that the Astros and other teams would have interest in Maldonado’s services next year. After all, he’s clearly well-respected as a game-caller who does a good job with a pitching staff, considering Houston’s pitching staff is second to only the Dodgers with a 3.63 ERA since Maldonado took over as the club’s primary catcher in 2020 despite ranking 10th in xFIP and 11th in SIERA over that same period of time. What’s more, a deal with Maldonado would surely be a short-term, low-cost affair given his age and difficult platform season.

Those factors could make Maldonado an attractive back-up option for teams in need of a one-year solution behind the plate, particularly for those with a young catcher who could benefit from an experienced mentor to share time with. Speculatively speaking, the Brewers, Rays, Marlins, and White Sox all have a need behind the plate this offseason, with the White Sox in particular likely to dedicate time to former Astro Korey Lee behind the plate in 2024. Lee, 25, has just 36 games of experience at the big league level and has worked with Maldonado previously, as the duo shared time behind the plate during Lee’s first big league cup of coffee in 2022.

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Houston Astros Martin Maldonado

Red Sox Notes: Turner, DH, Kluber
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View Comments (30)
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30 Comments

  1. For Love of the Game

    2 years ago

    Tigers already have their .185, glove-first backup catcher (Carson Kelly) so I guess they’re not in on Maldonado.

    1
    Reply
    • stymeedone

      2 years ago

      And are paying $3.5mm for the privilege.

      1
      Reply
  2. hyraxwithaflamethrower

    2 years ago

    As a White Sox fan, I wouldn’t mind Maldonado as a mentor to Lee and stopgap until Quero. Sox won’t compete in ’24 so might as well take the chance to learn what you can and start to change the culture.

    3
    Reply
    • avenger65

      2 years ago

      That’s just what the Sox need, another washed-up player. Lee is a terrible catcher. His defense.is average at best and he absolutely can’t hit, but he’s cheap, just the kind of player the Sox like. If they want to waste their time having Maldonado mentoring him, make him a coach.

      Reply
      • Astros_fan_in_Aus

        2 years ago

        How is Korey Lee a terrible catcher? He is a rookie with a rocket arm. Very early in his career to pass that judgement.

        2
        Reply
      • mohoney

        2 years ago

        I would rather go with Maldonado than trade for Salvador Perez. Both options suck, but the Maldonado option sucks much less.

        Reply
        • The UnderCROWNd

          2 years ago

          You’ve GOT to be kidding me.

          Reply
  3. JPR

    2 years ago

    Tis the season when agents tell writers that the players the represent have many suitors so that writers can tweet this “news” before anyone else. Fun.

    3
    Reply
    • Joel P

      2 years ago

      I think there is a hockey game on if you want to check it out.

      2
      Reply
      • avenger65

        2 years ago

        JPR: Just like GMs, agents also like to float names out there to get fans and teams, respectively, excited. Writers like to glom onto rumors to get readership interested. Amazing how.many fans fall for it.

        1
        Reply
  4. This one belongs to the Reds

    2 years ago

    Catching is in short supply, so not surprised.

    1
    Reply
  5. THEY LIVE!!!

    2 years ago

    As backup to Will Smith of the Dodgers he’d be better than Austin Barnes, assuming he can throw runners out.

    1
    Reply
    • Unclenolanrules

      2 years ago

      He can’t throw runners out, not much anymore. His defensive metrics are awful. Houston fans about set their hair on fire last season from hearing about Maldonado’s game calling skills. Can’t do anything else, but hey lets roll him out 6 out of 7 games because the pitchers like him.

      3
      Reply
  6. ❤️ MuteButton

    2 years ago

    “Maldonado has never been particularly outstanding with the bat”

    That may be the biggest understatement I have ever read on this site.

    10
    Reply
  7. Beff Jagwell

    2 years ago

    Sorry, but I fail to believe there are multiple teams looking into him. He was absolutely abysmal this year.

    3
    Reply
  8. Astros_fan_in_Aus

    2 years ago

    Please, somebody take him so there is no chance we get him back next season as a backup or coach.

    1
    Reply
  9. dudeman

    2 years ago

    JFC, Moldonaldo literally had the worst defense and frame rate in the entire MLB last year. Maybe he can be Dusty’s personal assistant

    1
    Reply
    • stymeedone

      2 years ago

      Yeah, “Framing”! I’m sure he just suddenly forgot how to catch.

      Reply
      • dudeman

        2 years ago

        WTF are you even talking about bruh look it up

        Reply
  10. Astro fan 111

    2 years ago

    I didn’t know there was such a demand for overweight aging catchers who can’t catch, throw, or hit. Maybe I can get a tryout. I am only 74, not as overweight as Maldy and think I could beat Maldy to first base in spite of my having both knees replaced.

    2
    Reply
  11. Old York

    2 years ago

    So he offers negative 1.0 WAA and is only 0.3 WAR compared to a minor leaguer? Yeah, time to retire.

    2
    Reply
  12. LordD99

    2 years ago

    It might be best for the Astros to move on from Maldonado and clear the decks for the transition to Diaz.

    Reply
    • jjd002

      2 years ago

      Yep. I worry if they bring him back some of the pitchers might demand he catches them. Then, if they hire another manager that doesn’t understand analytics he will be starting 6 of 7 games a week. I love what Maldonado brought to the team over the years but last year was bad.

      Reply
  13. coachsixstring

    2 years ago

    Gee , I hope it’s mu favorite team that signs a guy that can’t hit above the Mendoza Line.

    1
    Reply
  14. bmann300

    2 years ago

    Why would the White Sox get him ? They just now got rid of Grandal and his bad catching and hitting. Not to mention his terrible contact. If this is a lost season to come – let Lee and the other young catchers have a chance. Signing him would be typical White Sox and then no change in the organization.

    Reply
  15. I.M. Insane

    2 years ago

    Guy can’t hit .200 and threw out 14 of 100 base stealers in 2023. And yet teams are interested in him. Kids, forget basketball and education. Get dad to buy you a catcher’s mitt.

    Reply
    • davengmusic

      2 years ago

      Or learn to throw left handed

      Reply
  16. Rexhudler86

    2 years ago

    Maybe, the angels could trade stassi back to astros, and sign wallach.

    Reply
  17. GOAT Closer Esteban Yan

    2 years ago

    I hope at the very least, an AL West team signs him so he can keep pissing off the Rangers. The Rangers-Astros rivalry were the most entertaining parts of the season, and it all stemmed from their shared hatred of Maldonado.

    Reply
    • ❤️ MuteButton

      2 years ago

      I actually like the guy, he could probably be a good coach. As a player he’s pretty bad, really bad.

      Reply

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