January 16, 2025
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.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Dennis Lin
December 2, 2024
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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
July 17, 2024
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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 27, 2023
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.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Scott Merkin, Brent Maguire - MLB.com
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