Martin Maldonado has been an MLB catcher since 2011.
Never one to boast a potent bat, his defensive chops and game-calling ability has kept him afloat for years.
In 2018, he joined the Houston Astros organization, and after stints with different teams, he returned for good in 2019.
Since that year, he has played multiple American League Championship Series (ALCS) and two World Series, winning one in 2022.
He is the definition of a winner.
Now, his contract with the Astros is up.
He finds himself testing the free agent market, and it doesn’t appear that Houston is overly interested in re-signing him.
In fact, he is generating interest around the league.
“Free-agent C Martin Maldonado, who has been a key piece of the Astros’ success for the past four-plus seasons, is already drawing interest from 4-5 teams, per sources,” MLB insider Mark Feinsand tweeted.
Maldonado is a 37-year-old catcher with a .631 career OPS.
That OPS hasn’t been higher than .610 since 2020.
However, he has displayed some power in the last two seasons, hitting 15 homers in each one.
That occasional power and his ability to steal strikes, call a game, and communicate with his pitchers is giving him a market even at an advanced age.
If there is a team that appreciates Maldonado’s skillset at this point of his career, it’s the Astros.
However, they enjoyed the breakout of Yainer Diaz, a young catcher who does not have his ability behind the plate but boasts a much more potent bat.
The Astros might be prepared to move on without Maldonado in large part because they have Diaz.
In any case, we wouldn’t rule out an eventual return to H-Town: the offseason is long.
One thing is clear, though: if Maldonado finds a team willing to give him a nice, long contract, he will go there.
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