The MLB Hot Stove isn’t fired up all the way yet, but action is starting to percolate at least a little bit. Over the weekend, reports emerged that several teams are interested in a veteran World Series-winning catcher.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported on Saturday that multiple teams have an interest in catcher Martin Maldonado. The 37-year-old catcher is a free agent following five seasons with the Houston Astros.
“While Maldonado is out of the starting role in Houston, he’s already drawing plenty of interest on the open market per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand,” MLB Trade Rumors wrote. MLBTR added that Feinsand said “‘4-5 teams’ have checked in on the veteran already this offseason.”
It makes sense that several teams would be interested in Maldonado and what he brings to the table. Veteran catchers are considered a valuable piece to the puzzle, whether they’re starters or not. Maldonado’s experience in the big leagues is also an added benefit, as he’s been in MLB since 2011.
He’s been in plenty of clubhouses as well. Maldonado has spent time with the Astros, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Angels, the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago Cubs throughout his career. He won the World Series with the Astros in 2022, as the Astros triumphed over the Philadelphia Phillies. The win gave veteran manager Dusty Baker his first World Series championship. Baker retired this offseason after the Astros didn’t reach the World Series for the third year in a row. The eventual champions, the Texas Rangers, defeated the Astros in a seven-game series.
For Maldonado, we’ll see where he lands. Whichever team gets him will certainly get a respected player who’s had more than a cup of coffee at the big league level.