Report: Padres agree to minor-league deal with Martín Maldonado

The San Diego Padres added some catching depth Thursday, agreeing to a minor-league contract with veteran free-agent backstop Martín Maldonado, sources told Dennis Lin of The Athletic.

Maldonado's deal includes an invitation to big-league spring training.

The 38-year-old will try to get back to the majors following a dismal 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox. Maldonado hit a career-worst .119/.174/.230 with four home runs and 51 strikeouts across 48 games before being released in July. His batting average was the lowest ever in a single season for a position player with at least 135 at-bats, per Stathead.

Maldonado's defense, his calling card, also fell off in 2024. The former Gold Glove winner put up minus-7 defensive runs saved and minus-3 catcher framing runs, while catching only three runners stealing in 388 2/3 innings behind the plate.

He'll attempt to return to the majors as a glove-first backup and clubhouse leader in San Diego. Projected starter Luis Campusano and minor-league journeyman Brett Sullivan, who got into seven games last season, are the only catchers currently on the Padres' 40-man roster.

Maldonado could also help mentor 18-year-old top prospect Ethan Salas, who's risen quickly through the Padres' farm system but has only played nine games above Single-A.

A veteran of 14 big-league seasons, Maldonado is best known for his six years with the Houston Astros, where he was the starting catcher on three pennant-winning clubs and one World Series champion. The Puerto Rico native ranks fourth in defensive runs saved (59) among catchers with at least 9,000 innings since 2003, and he won a Gold Glove with the Angels in 2017.