It's a testament to Martín Maldonado's catching abilities that he's started 118, 110 and 116 games over the last three years despite posting his worst three seasons as a hitter. He owns a .183/.260/.333 line since the start of the 2021 season, but the Astros still had no problems having him in the lineup two out of every three days, not to mention the bulk of their many, many, many postseason games.
But 2023 was Maldonado's first season as a liability behind the plate, at least as a receiver, and that's something that can't be waved away as he joins the White Sox on a one-year contract reportedly worth $4 million, with a $4 million vesting option for 2025.
It can be downplayed, or at least placed on a backburner, because framing numbers can fluctuate from season to season. Framing numbers also have a tendency to slide over the years, because it's a skill that declines as much as any other as a player enters his mid-to-late 30s, and Maldonado turned 37 in August.
His receiving could rebound to average, and he could continue chugging along as a defense-only catcher renowned for doing everything besides hitting. It could also foreshadow Maldonado's unique profile finally succumbing to Father Time, so he poses a litmus test for optimism or cynicism.
Scott Merkin made the case for the White Sox adding Maldonado alongside Max Stassi in his story:
This signing is sensible for the White Sox with a young pitching staff that now has another backstop to pair with Max Stassi, whom the team acquired from the Braves earlier this month, and Lee. With potential turnover coming for a White Sox team headed by new general manager Chris Getz -- who might be tasked with moving frontline starter Dylan Cease -- there’s value in signing a veteran catcher who’s been a part of many winning Astros teams.
Lee, 25, impressed the White Sox with his September work behind the plate, but for his young big league career, Lee is hitting .100 at the plate. Edgar Quero, the team’s 20-year-old switch-hitting catcher ranked No. 81 overall by MLB Pipeline, will benefit from working with Maldonado.
And Chuck Garfien emphatically supported Maldonado's arrival, sharing a story from Hannah Keyser as evidence.
And it's entirely possible that Maldonado's renowned preparation rubs off on a White Sox team that sorely lacked it. If that's the case, then the Sox may as well name him manager, because he'll have succeeded where Pedro Grifol and Mike Tosar failed.
That just runs counter to the recent history of the White Sox, which rejects leadership transplants like an immune system attacks a mismatched kidney. Here are some players the White Sox acquired with leadership being mentioned up front.
- Elvis Andrus
- Yonder Alonso
- Adam LaRoche
- Edwin Encarnacion
- Everybody in 2016
And maybe they really offered intangible potential, but when a player fails to perform, that angle falls flat. Maldonado could lean on his reputation with the Astros as his defense wobbled because he'd gained everybody's trust over hundreds of battles. He'll carry that reputation with him to Chicago, but if this is the year his game truly craters, that currency can lose a considerable amount of value during the exchange.
The good news is that Maldonado is playing the position that is least reliant on offensive production for team value, but if it's mid-May and Maldonado is hitting closer to .100 than .200, he might face the same difficulties looking beyond his own problems that Paul Konerko wrestled with over his final two seasons.
Maldonado's arrival also makes me wonder what purpose Drew Butera serves on Grifol's staff. The creation of a catching coach position made a lot more sense when Korey Lee or Carlos Pérez figured to be prominent parts of the "plan," but in a world where Maldonado and Max Stassi are catching most of the games, Butera's "up-and-coming mind" might be able to wander after spring training.
