Martín Maldonado - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Padres' catcher market push proves Freddy Fermin is more bridge than franchise piece Just please don't let Martin Maldonado un-retire.

NOVEMBER 19 • FRIARSONBASE.COM

Deadspin | Padres C Martin Maldonado retires after 15 seasons Deadspin | Padres C Martin Maldonado retires after 15 seasons

OCTOBER 19 • DEADSPIN.COM

Padres C Martin Maldonado retires after 15 seasons Catcher Martin Maldonado announced his retirement Saturday after 15 seasons with seven teams.Maldonado, 39, appeared in 64 games for the San...

OCTOBER 18 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Announces retirement Maldonado announced his retirement from baseball via his personal Instagram account Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact Maldonado entered the league as a 27th-round pick of the Angels in 2004 MLB Draft. He first saw major-league action in 2011 with Milwaukee and proceeded to play the next 15 years in the big leagues with the Angels, Astros, Cubs, Royals, White Sox and Padres. Maldonado won a Gold Glove in 2017 with the Angels and played a key role with the Astros during their World Series run in 2022. He will hang up his cleats and end his career with a .203/.277/.343 slash line with 119 home runs and 384 RBI across 1,231 regular-season games in the majors.

OCTOBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Contract selected The Padres selected Maldonado's contract from the Arizona Complex League Padres.

Impact Maldonado is one of three catchers included on the team's wild-card roster, as he'll join Luis Campusano as a backup behind Freddy Fermin while Elias Diaz (oblique) recuperates. Fermin is expected to start every game during the series versus the Cubs, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic, so Maldonado is around merely as protection.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Signs minor-league deal with Padres Maldonado and the Padres agreed on a minor-league contract Monday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Maldonado will return to San Diego's organization after being released by the team Aug. 6. The catcher is expected to head to the team's facility in Arizona to ramp back up in order to be potentially available in case of an injury down the road this season.

SEPTEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Padres release Martin Maldonado, outright Tyler Wade to Triple-A The San Diego Padres released catcher Martin Maldonado and outrighted utility player Tyler Wade to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.San Diego d...

AUGUST 6 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Released by Padres The Padres released Maldonado on Wednesday.

Impact Maldonado still leads the Padres in starts at catcher this season with 56, but the club acquired Freddy Fermin at the trade deadline and elected to keep Elias Diaz around over Maldonado as the backup. The soon-to-be 39-year-old has slashed only .163/.211/.280 since the start of last season and might have trouble finding work in a new organization.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

Released by Padres The Padres released Maldonado on Wednesday.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

DFA'd by Padres Maldonado was designated for assignment by the Padres on Thursday.

Impact Maldonado served as San Diego's primary catcher for extended stretches in 2025, though he had begun to lose significant playing time to Elias Diaz since mid-July. The Padres acquired Freddy Fermin on Thursday, which cost Maldonado his spot on the roster.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Padres are very busy at another trade deadline, adding Mason Miller, Ryan O'Hearn, Ramon Laureano

The San Diego Padres made several bold moves at yet another trade deadline

JULY 31 • Associated Press

Darvish sharp for 7 innings, Sheets homers and the Padres beat the Mets 5-0 for 3-game sweep

Yu Darvish pitched seven impressive innings for his first victory of the season and Gavin Sheets hit a two-run home run for the San Diego Padres, who beat the NL East-leading New Y...

JULY 30 • Associated Press

Sitting third straight Maldonado isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Impact Maldonado will retreat to the bench for the third straight game Tuesday while Elias Diaz starts behind the dish. Neither backstop has been particularly productive at the plate this season, though the Padres may be starting to favor using Diaz as their primary catcher.

JULY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting again Monday Maldonado is not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Mets on Monday.

Impact Maldonado will be on the bench for a second straight game while Elias Diaz serves behind home plate and bats ninth. Maldonado hasn't been that productive at the plate this season, though he has gone 5-for-14 (.357) with three doubles and two RBI since the All-Star break.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Hitting bench Sunday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact Maldonado and Elias Diaz have now alternated turns behind the plate over the last six games, with both backstops drawing three starts apiece. Neither backstop has been able to get much going offensively this season, with Maldonado producing a .560 OPS in 157 plate appearances and Diaz generating a .576 OPS over 218 plate appearances.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Getting breather Wednesday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

Impact Maldonado will get some rest for Wednesday's day game after he started behind the plate in the first two games of the series while going 2-for-6 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run. Elias Diaz will handle catching duties in the series finale.

JULY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Getting breather Wednesday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

JULY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Merrill, Maldonado deliver RBI hits in the 2nd inning as Padres hold on to beat Marlins 2-1

Jackson Merrill and Martín Maldonado had run-scoring hits in the second inning and the San Diego Padres held on to beat the Miami Marlins 2-1

JULY 22 • Associated Press

Padres Daily: The game they needed; Pivetta's 10th; the 'real' Xander; Slam Diego Padres could make a salary swap at trade deadline to try to get what they need for offense; it seems Martin Maldonado might not be going any...

JULY 21 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Lowe homers as Nationals defeat Padres 4-2 to snap 5-game skid

Nathaniel Lowe homered and the Washington Nationals snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres

JULY 20 • Associated Press

Padres' Mike Shildt defends catchers amid terrible offensive season | Sporting News San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt defends catchers Martin Maldonado and Elias Diaz.

JULY 14 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Resting Sunday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

Impact After starting behind the plate in three of the Friars' previous four contests, Maldonado will get a breather for the final game before the All-Star break. Elias Diaz will step in at catcher for the Padres on Sunday.

JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Padres' catching situation in flux with veteran retiring after 2025 season Martin Maldonado's first season with the San Diego Padres will officially be his last. The 38-year-old catcher made it official that he is g...

JULY 13 • FRIARSONBASE.COM

Padres should part with horrible offensive catcher after Reds' latest roster move It's clear the Padres need help at the catching position. Martin Maldonado has been simply awful, posting a 24 OPS+, -0.1 bWAR and a .163 AV...

JULY 13 • FRIARSONBASE.COM

Resting Friday Maldonado is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.

Impact Maldonado has not caught more than two games in a row this season, and after catching back-to-back games, Maldonado will yield to Elias Diaz behind the plate Friday. Maldonado has four home runs and a .512 OPS in 138 plate appearances during 2025.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

MARTÍN MALDONADO NEWS

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Padres are very busy at another trade deadline, adding Mason Miller, Ryan O'Hearn, Ramon Laureano

Darvish sharp for 7 innings, Sheets homers and the Padres beat the Mets 5-0 for 3-game sweep

Merrill, Maldonado deliver RBI hits in the 2nd inning as Padres hold on to beat Marlins 2-1

Lowe homers as Nationals defeat Padres 4-2 to snap 5-game skid