Report: White Sox and veteran catcher Martín Maldonado strike an agreement first surfaced on NBC Sports Chicago.
Yasmani Grandal’s arrival on the free agency scene suggests that the Chicago White Sox are beginning the process of securing the catcher position in 2024.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports that the White Sox and veteran backstop Martín Maldonado have reached an agreement on a one-year contract.
Maldonado, 37, is coming off a couple of terrible offensive seasons with the Houston Astros, but his rapport and efficiency with the pitching staff have more than made up for it.
Maldonado gained 2.8 defensive WAR over the last three seasons while registering OPS+s of 58, 70, and 66, respectively. During that time, he also built a strong chemistry with the Astros pitching staff.
Maldonado has been among the league’s poorest hitting position players lately, but over the previous four seasons, he has been the Astros’ starting catcher. Given that the White Sox lack a clear Grandal successor, Maldonado may stay in that role on the South Side.
Young catchers Carlos Pérez and Korey Lee are also in the system, so Maldonado’s presence may be beneficial off the field for the organization’s depth at the position.
The White Sox on the South Side will be hoping that Maldonado can infuse some of his advanced knowledge of the game into a pitching staff that was among the worst in the league the previous season.
Maldonado gained 2.8 defensive WAR over the last three seasons while registering OPS+s of 58, 70, and 66, respectively. During that time, he also built a strong chemistry with the Astros pitching staff.
Maldonado has been among the league’s poorest hitting position players lately, but over the previous four seasons, he has been the Astros’ starting catcher. Given that the White Sox lack a clear Grandal successor, Maldonado may stay in that role on the South Side.
Young catchers Carlos Pérez and Korey Lee are also in the system, so Maldonado’s presence may be beneficial off the field for the organization’s depth at the position.
The White Sox are hoping that Maldonado brings some of his