After 15 Major League seasons, Martin Maldonado is retiring from baseball. The 39-year-old catcher made the official announcement today via his Instagram page, thanking his family, the fans, teammates, coaches, and many others who helped him live his dream.
“Baseball, I was just four years old when I fell in love with you,” Maldonado said in his statement. “From the moment I first put on that catcher’s gear, I knew this game would be part of me forever. Every inning, every pitch, every moment behind the plate has been a blessing. For 34 years, I’ve had the honor of wearing that gear — and for the last 15, doing it at the highest level. Today, it’s time to hang them up and officially call it a career.”
The epitome of a glove-first catcher, Maldonado will retire with a career .203/.277/.343 slash line and 119 home runs over 4028 plate appearances and 1230 games in the majors. Despite the modest offensive output, Maldonado carved out a long career due to his defense and game-calling ability. Maldonado was renowned for his ability to work with pitchers, whether it was young arms just arriving in the big leagues or veteran hurlers who were set in their routines.
This ability earned Maldonado regular work on one of baseball’s most successful teams of recent years, as he played with the Astros for parts of the 2018-23 seasons. Initially a deadline pickup for Houston in 2018, Maldonado left for a free agent deal with the Royals that winter, but was re-acquired again by the Astros at the 2019 trade deadline. The Astros then locked Maldonado up on a two-year contract that winter, with another extension in April 2021 that ultimately added two more years to Maldonado’s time in Houston once he played enough in 2021 to trigger a vesting option.
With plenty of pop elsewhere in the lineup, the Astros were happy to focus on defense in the catcher’s position, with such other backstops as Jason Castro, Garrett Stubbs, Christian Vazquez, and eventual heir apparent Yainer Diaz all sharing time with Maldonado behind the plate. Maldonado’s tenure in Houston was highlighted by a championship ring in 2022 when the Astros captured the World Series.
A 27th-round pick for the Angels way back in the 2004 draft, Maldonado didn’t make his MLB debut until he appeared in three games with the Brewers in 2011. That cup of coffee marked the first of six seasons for Maldonado in a Milwaukee uniform, acting as a complement to regular catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The Brewers dealt Maldonado to the Angels in December 2016, and the 2017 season saw Maldonado earn starting catcher duties and win the only Gold Glove of his career.
Maldonado went from the highs of the Astros’ perpetual contention to the low of playing with the 121-loss White Sox in 2024, though Maldonado was released by the Sox in July of that year as the team was moving on to younger options. He signed a minor league contract with the Padres last winter and hit .204/.245/.327 in 161 PA and 64 Major League games in what ended up being his final season in the Show. The Padres designated Maldonado for assignment and released him in August, but re-signed him to a minor league deal in September. Maldonado even got one more taste of the playoffs when the Padres activated him for backup duty in their Wild Card Series against the Cubs, though Maldonado didn’t play during the three-game series.
Maldonado’s defensive metrics tended to swing from year to year, yet at various points in his career, he was one of baseball’s best at framing pitchers, blocking pitches in the dirt, and throwing out baserunners. In the latter category, Maldonado tossed out 188 of 663 runners (28.36%) attempting to steal. Maldonado finishes his career as a +17 in Fielding Run Value and with +57 Defensive Runs Saved.
We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Maldonado on a fine career, and we wish him the best in his post-playing endeavors.
Helluva career.
To be followed by an announcement that he’s been hired as a coach, perhaps with the Astros
Hitting coach
Catching position a premium, probably could still sign on a needy team.
I though Manny Machado was retiring at first glance.
He’s so angry and bitter
Manny probably should retire.
Martin, although had modest batting record was able to have a long career doing something he loved.
When a player like this retires, I often look at what he earnt. I hope he’s set himself and his family up.
He will probably catch on somewhere helping young players. Nothing but respect for him.
World Series Champion Martin Maldonado
Thanks for clarifying, I thought they were talking about the other catcher named Martin Maldonado.
Catchers – always the smartest and best looking players in the game of baseball.
Best looking? Have you ever seen a picture of Yogi Berra??
@coop – Admittedly, there are times that one needs to squint a little bit. Having met Yogi and not just looked at a picture, he was undeniably soulful and good-looking in a way that perhaps only a mother would love.
Yeah just having a little fun. I definitely agree with you on being the smartest guys on the field.
Is that you, Eddie Perez?
Hey man how did you know?
If you look up “glove-first catcher” on the Internet, you will likely see this man’s name. (however, perhaps your next search should be “shrinks near me” to find out WHY you’d be performing such a look-up…) A great career, lots of money, probably will coach somewhere.
At least he went out swinging and went 8 for his last 20 ABs with 3 doubles
You did your homework on this guy. I didn’t realize that. Doesn’t change the narrative however.
though true, I was just having fun. He truly was the most glove-first catcher ever, partly because he couldn’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag, and partly because he was a very good catcher/game caller.
Ever? Maybe Austin Hedges.
Great career prime candidate for a job as a hitting coach
Or manager.
Dude had a long MLB career. He got his bag and got a championship ring, congrats to Martin!
Congrats on retirement, Martin. Rest those knees now. You earned it.
Just in time to interview for the Giants managerial position.
I can garenteed Dusty Baker immediately went to Buster Posey to tell him to Hire Maldonado as their manager.
Hard to judge his value as a player. Clearly there was a ton to like for teams to be playing such a relatively weak hitter. Catchers are already hard to judge statistically. Nice career. Had a big impact on other careers too.
It seems like those 119 homers he hit all came against the Mariners. There was a stretch when he killed us with the long ball all the while hitting just above the Mendoza Line. Happy retirement Martin.
Love the way he announced his retirement. Giving the love to his catcher’s mit
Definition of a defense-first catcher. Congratulations on a long career and enjoy your retirement.
Happy Retirement!
Get out while you’re still over .200
Higher career batting average than me and yours.
Congrats on retirement, Martin!
“Worst thing he did was wake up the Houston Astros”….Rangers in 7!
Most casual fans are in the dark regarding the importance of game calling and catcher/pitching staff work. This is NUMBER ONE most valuable trait of the many intangibles that a catcher must provide. Front offices understand this, while fans remain confused as to why Austin Hedges is still in the big leagues.
The Astros need to sign him as a catching coach. If I recall correctly, they have an opening.
DBacks should trade Pfaadt for Peralta.
Some team needs to hire that man as a coach. You listening Minasian?
My son-in-law was reading over my shoulder and said, “Want a testament to how much more important calling a great game is than hitting for a catcher? Look no further than Maldonado spending 15 years in the majors.”
My daughter grabbed a good one. That boy understands baseball. He doesn’t even mind being roped into going to 50-60 Angels games a year because paraphrasing his words, at least he gets to see one major league team play.
After 15 seasons behind the plate, Martin Maldonado is hanging up his gear. Drafted by the Angels and later returning to Anaheim, Maldonado carved out a career defined not by batting titles, but by backbone a defensive wizard with a cannon for an arm and a mind built for managing pitching staffs.
From his Gold Glove season in 2017 to guiding the Astros to a World Series title in 2022, Maldonado was the kind of catcher pitchers trusted and teammates rallied around. He didn’t just catch games he commanded them.
He retires at 39, having played for seven teams, but always with the same edge: toughness, leadership, and a refusal to be overlooked. Well deserved enjoy your retirement life.
Really great at all the little things that go into catching.
Great career,
Just in time to throw his hat in the ring for the Angels managerial opening
Austin Hedges ‘ hero retires.
I watched him hit a bomb in Rincon, Puerto Rico winter league, around 2013.
They were selling T Shirts with his nickname.
Machete. Great nickname. Never saw it used in MLB.