Feb. 20: Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times takes a broader look, reporting that the Mariners are in the market for a right-handed-hitting catcher to pair with the left-handed-hitting Narvaez. The organization’s preference, per Divish, is to add a catcher on a minor league contract or a split MLB deal. Maldonado, however, is still seeking a fully guaranteed big league deal. The fact that he’s having a difficult time coming by one, given his defensive prowess, frankly comes as a surprise; Maldonado’s bat last season was light, but then again, so was that of the league-average catcher (84 wRC+). At the very least, one would think that Maldonado is a clear upgrade over a significant portion of backup catchers throughout the league.
At this point, the free-agent market offers little in the way of alternatives outside of switch-hitting Matt Wieters (who, like Maldonado, is represented by Scott Boras). That said, there will quite likely be numerous catching options that hit the market over the course of Spring Training, both in the form of players being exposed to waivers and other veterans opting out of minor league contracts.
Feb. 19: The Mariners are among the clubs that are interested in veteran catcher Martin Maldonado, reports MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter).
It’s been a quiet offseason for Maldonado, one of the game’s most highly regarded defenders behind the plate. While Maldonado doesn’t offer much help with the bat, he’s a former Gold Glove winner with a career 38 percent caught-stealing rate whose framing rates have never once rated as below-average at the Major League level, per Baseball Prospectus. Dating back to 2012, the only catchers in all of baseball with more Defensive Runs Saved than Maldonado’s 68 are Buster Posey (92) and Yadier Molina (83), though both have caught at least 2000 innings more than Maldonado.
Strong as his glovework might be, Maldonado is a career .220/.289/.350 hitter who has managed a lowly .223/.276/.360 (73 OPS+) line in 875 plate appearances across the past two seasons. Maldonado does have a bit of pop, as evidenced by the .137 ISO and 23 home runs he’s logged dating back to Opening Day 2017.
For the Mariners, Maldonado would provide a nice defensive-minded option to pair with offseason trade acquisition Omar Narvaez, who remains a shaky defender despite the fact that his bat took a step forward in 2018. Currently, journeyman David Freitas projects to be the primary backup to Narvaez, as he’s the only other catcher on the Mariners’ 40-man roster. Veteran Jose Lobaton is in camp with the Mariners on a minor league pact as well.
There’s been little in the way of reported interest in Maldonado since December, when the Mets and White Sox were both linked to him. New York, however, has has since added Wilson Ramos on a two-year contract, while the ChiSox picked up James McCann to pair with veteran Welington Castillo.
I’d love him back on the Angels!
You want Bob Boone back too? Your typical Halo clown, zero direction…. Just like the organization.
That seems like an over reaction
Haha! Yes an extreme overreaction! But funny! Halo clown? Lol!!!
ignore the haters, Shane. You keep on hammering.
I’ve been advocating for this since day 1 after the Zunino trade. They need a defensive minded catcher to compliment Narvaez, an offensive minded catcher.
I remembered this and you are right. Very similar to Zunino minus the power. Would be as close to plug & play as possible.
Wait! Sanchez isn’t too 3 in defensive runs saved?
He’s top guy in Defensive Runs Given for sure!
Sign him Jerry! Machete rules I’ll always love him from the Brewer days!
As a Brewer fan, I can say Maldy is a pro’s pro. Heck of an arm, dude loves to win, the kind of guy you want on your team. Never really got full time at bats for the Crew, but clearly isn’t an offensive juggernaut. Great addition to any team.
of course, dip dip will do whatever angels have done!
Haven’t noticed the Mariners over paying for any free agents lately.
1. What does any of what the M’s have done mirror the Angels? And if it does, many other teams have done it too.
2. We’ve spent just as much money as the angels, if not more.
3. This is going to be a slow 2019 season for the Mariners.
LA’s payroll is a good 20 million higher and tons of dough comes off the books for Seattle over the next two years.
The Mariners are positioned much better forvthe future.
Angels fans aren’t willing to admit the ugly truth. The fact that Jerry Dipoto’s vision was different than that of their current owner’s Arte Moreno. Everything Dipoto has done since his time is Seattle began is exactly the opposite of when he was the GM for the Angels. You’re owner Moreno has spent money, foolishly. Its caught up with you’re organization.
LOL, both teams have tons of dollars coming off the books in the near future. Seattle has 48 mil on the books for 2021, the Angels 53 mil.. You’re deluding yourself if you believe the Mariners will match the Angels when it comes to their ability to spend and the Angels farm system is significantly deeper. The Mariners are better positioned only in the minds of myopic Mariner fans.
Amazing how all the BS about Moreno wanting this or wanting that ended when Eppler was hired isn’t it? Moreno wanted to win no doubt and was generous with payroll but his biggest mistake was hiring Dipoto to lead the Angels.
Thankfully the franchise has been undoing all the damage from the Dipoto era… They have been shedding the bad contracts over time… They rebuilt the farm system Dipoto decimated and failed to add to.. They started drafting well instead of the same college types (high floor low ceiling), Dipoto favored and has continued to draft while in Seattle.
.
They got out of the penalty box Dipoto put them into with his absolutely ridiculous Bladoquiin signing, a deal he trumpeted as having scouted himself, and who he claimed was MLB ready and only needed at bats.
Clubhouse issues, over. Constant leaks to the press, over the second he left.
JD is a likeable guy, says all the right things and makes you buy into whatever BS he is spewing but what he says and what he does rarely lines up, still people lap it up and ask for more. Angels fans did it, M’s fans are doing it now.
At least he knows how to pick what team to GM because he’s 2 for 2 in finding locations where no matter what he does the fanbase was willing to blame the guy that was there before he got there.
Funny, because you haven’t seen the Angels do that since that moron left either…
This would be a good deal, he might be flippable to a team like the BoSox at mid-year.
Don’t think a team with 3 catchers is looking for another.
On the other hand it seems like they enjoy collecting them so you never know!
Let me get this straight, barring an injury posters expect Boston to trade for a defense only catcher when they have Vazquez and Leon, two similar catchers who the team’s staff just pitched a championship to. Maldonado did not show much in the ACS. Moreover Vazquez after a terrible start actually hit ok and Leon simply does the little things like being the team’s best bunter. I hope they keep three catchers bit if not, I expect Sweihart to be the odd man out.
Just no
I wonder what Maldonado’s DRS would be with 2,000 more innings under his belt. Phenomenal defensive catcher.
At the beginning of his career Yadier Molina did not bat much as the years passed and he was maturing not that he is a tremendous hitter but it helps a lot.
Maldonado is well last that he’s only 4 years younger
The White Sox offered him 8 years, $250M.
on God?
“The White Sox offered him 8 years, $250M.”
And Maldonado turned them down… word on the street is they offered it to Span and he turned them down too. White Sox can’t win.
look at bball ref. and give him some at bats he has a history to produce.
Steve Adams its ok to research a player before you gove your view.
Is this a parody account
It’s ok to check your spelling and punctuation before you give yours.
excellent dig.
“Pick ’em up!” -Loyd Christmas
If you ever want to see something special, go to a game where Maldonado is involved, get there early to watch infield practice and watch this man fire bullets down to 2nd base. Saw him doing such at Miller Park 5 years ago and couldn’t believe the power of this guy’s right arm.
The Mariners do need a catcher and Martin Maldinado could be the key for the pitching staff; they need to make this move immediately.
After keeping us entertained in NOV and DEC, Jerry Dipoto made only one minor trade since DEC 21. Still, we just have to root for the Mariners after he made such a strong effort to improve the team. Even though it seems that the other team got the best of the deal in those trades, the Mariners roster does look overall better than last season.
Smith and Gordon up top should give Haniger, Encarnacion, Seager and Bruce chances to drive in runs. This could be that sleeper team of 2019, especially the 2nd half.
We don’t have the pitching to compete. I would be surprised if they didn’t have smith leading off and Gordon in the 8 or 9 hole.
Never do but they’ve been competitive the last couple years.
Cubs need him. Contreras is a terrible pitch framer. Costs our teams strikes, which costs our starters IP’s
I’m surprised he’s still on the market honestly, one hell of a catcher. Most teams certainly could use that kind of a defensive upgrade behind the dish. Even in a backup capacity.
Mariners should sign Maldonado just to keep him off an AL roster! Seems like this guy picks off at least 1 or 2 of our runners every time we play him! Cannon of an arm
Martin Maldonado kind of sounds like Manny Machado if you say it fast with your hand over your mouth. Maybe the fans won’t notice the difference. Sign em!
Call the Twins. Ask for Mitch Garver…..please….someone
Perhaps they call the rays and trade for zunnino.
Flowers for Hanniger. Make it happen AA!!!
Nah, a switch hitter is better…..Swihart for Hanniger works…..
another sox trade for a flop rp?
They can have d’Arnaud if they want for free lol.
What’s the difference between the mariners and a mosquito, mosquito stops sucking!