Former Gold Glove Catcher DFA'd

Now at the age of 37, and in his fourth straight season of batting in the .100s, it appears that time is running short for former Gold Glove catcher and 14-year veteran Martin Maldonado. He has been designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox.  

The White Sox have designated Martín Maldonado for assignment, sources tell me and @Chandler_Rome.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 17, 2024

Maldonado was hitting a woeful .119 in 147 plate appearances for the White Sox this season, with an OPS of .404 and a nearly invisible OPS+ of 14. These dreadful offensive numbers will likely mean that he'll go unclaimed on waivers, meaning he can then choose to become a free agent and try to peddle his defensive wares elsewhere.

The catcher had spent the previous 4+ seasons as the starter behind the plate with the Houston Astros, including helping the team to a World Series in 2022. It was his strong defense and pitch-calling that kept him in the lineup, as he never hit better than .191 in his time there, save for the shortened 2020 season in which he mustered up a .215 mark.

Across 14 major league seasons, Maldonado has a .203 average and a .622 OPS, though as mentioned, it's his work behind the plate that's kept him in the big leagues all this time. He won a Gold Glove for it in 2017 while with the Los Angeles Angels.

Photo: © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports