Catcher Martín Maldonado was launched by the White Sox in July and didn’t signal with one other membership within the last months of the 2024 season. However that doesn’t imply he’s strolling away, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (X hyperlink) relays that the backstop is hoping to play yet another season.
Maldonado, now 38, has a protracted monitor report as a glove-first catcher. In virtually 4,000 profession plate appearances on the main league stage, he has produced a batting line of .203/.278/.344. That interprets to a wRC+ of 70, indicating he’s been 30% beneath league common on the plate in his profession.
However behind the plate is the place he has created his worth. He has a profession tally of 59 Defensive Runs Saved, one of many prime ten marks within the majors from 2012 to the current. Shops like FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus and Statcast have given him robust grades for his framing, blocking and throwing in his profession. On prime of these quantifiable components, he’s been lauded for intangibles like working with pitchers and offering clubhouse management.
Regardless of the shortage of offense, he has signed 4 totally different contracts prior to now six years, every with annual values between $2MM and $5MM. Groups have usually been keen to tolerate his lineup presence in change for his different contributions.
He examined the boundaries of that tolerance in 2024, nonetheless, and located a breaking level. He signed a one-year, $4.3MM take care of the White Sox going into the latest season. However he hit simply .119/.174/.230 in his 147 plate appearances, placing out in 34.7% of them whereas solely drawing a stroll 5.4% of the time. Although the Sox absolutely knew they weren’t going to be getting an elite bat, that was poor even by Maldonado’s low requirements, so he was launched in July.
It seems that Maldonado would like a greater last act as a serious leaguer, so he’ll attempt to get again in motion in 2025. After lacking the previous few months of the season, he just lately suited up for Leones del Escogido within the Dominican Winter League. He hit two dwelling runs in his ten video games there however slashed .114/.184/.314 in that small pattern, for what it’s price.
Maldonado gained’t have enormous incomes energy with the best way his 2024 season went, however what may work in his favor is that the catching market isn’t robust total. Guys like Danny Jansen, Kyle Higashioka and Carson Kelly characterize the highest of the free agent market. Golf equipment just like the Nationals, Padres, Marlins, Rays and others could possibly be looking out for catching upgrades this offseason, so maybe Maldonado will have the ability to discover some curiosity, although he’d seemingly be taking a look at minor league gives.
