After 15 major league seasons, Martin Maldonado About to retire from baseball. The 39-year-old catcher officially announced the news today via his Instagram page, thanking his family, fans, teammates, coaches and the many people who have helped him achieve his dream.
“Baseball, I was four years old when I fell in love with you“,” Maldonado said in a statement.From the moment I first put on my catcher gear, I knew this game would forever be a part of me. Every inning, every pitch, every moment behind the plate is a blessing. I’ve had the privilege of wearing this equipment for 34 years and for the last 15 years I’ve been wearing it at the highest level. Today, it’s time to hang them up and officially call it a career“.
The epitome of a glove catcher, Maldonado will retire with a career .203/.277/.343 slash line and 119 homers in 4,028 plate appearances and 1,230 major league games. Despite his limited offensive output, Maldonado carved out a long career with his defense and game-calling ability. Maldonado is known for his ability to work with pitchers, whether they are young pitchers just entering the major leagues or veteran pitchers who are already ready to pitch regularly.
That ability landed Maldonado a regular job with one of baseball’s most successful teams in recent years, playing for the Astros for parts of the 2018-23 seasons. Originally drafted by Houston at the 2018 deadline, Maldonado left the Royals as a free agent that winter but was reacquired by the Astros at the 2019 trade deadline. The Astros then signed Maldonado to a two-year contract that winter and extended it again in April 2021, ultimately adding two more years to Maldonado’s time in Houston once Maldonado played enough games in 2021 to trigger the vesting option.
With plenty of pop elsewhere in the lineup, the Astros are happy to focus on defense at the catcher position, along with other backs such as Jason Castro, Garrett Stubbs, Christian Vazquezand the ultimate legal heir Yana Diaz All time was shared with Maldonado behind the plate. Maldonado’s tenure in Houston was highlighted by a championship ring when the Astros won the 2022 World Series.
As early as the 2004 draft, Maldonado was selected by the Angels in the 27th round. It was not until 2011 that Maldonado made his debut in Major League Baseball (MLB) after playing three games for the Brewers. That cup of coffee marked the first of Maldonado’s six seasons in a Milwaukee uniform, complementing the regular catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The Brewers traded Maldonado to the Angels in December 2016, and Maldonado earned starting catcher duties during the 2017 season and won the only Gold Glove of his career.
Maldonado fell from the heights of permanent contention with the Astros to the lows of a 121-game losing streak with the White Sox in 2024, though Maldonado was released by the Red Sox in July of that year as the team turned 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, his final season in the exhibition game. The Padres designated Maldonado and released him in August, but re-signed him to a minor league contract in September. Maldonado even got another taste of the postseason when the Padres benched him in the Wild Card Series against the Cubs, although Maldonado did not pitch in the three-game series.
Maldonado’s defensive metrics tend to fluctuate from year to year, but at various points in his career, he’s been one of the best players in baseball at trapping pitchers, blocking pitches in the dirt and throwing out runners. In the latter category, Maldonado eliminated 188 of 663 runners who attempted to steal (28.36 percent). Maldonado finished his career with a +17 fielding run average and a +57 fielding run average.
We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Maldonado on a great career and wish him the best in his post-game endeavors.
