MLB Trade Rumors: A Yankees-White Sox deal could bolster team’s pitching staff
The New York Yankees are reportedly looking to sign veteran catcher Martin Maldonado before the trade deadline. Although he offers very little in terms of offensive production, his expertise behind the plate could help the Yankees pitching staff get out of their recent slump.
The Chicago White Sox designated Martin Maldonado for assignment on Wednesday, according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal. Replying to Rosenthal's tweet, Andy Martino, MLB analyst for SNY, added that Yankees ace Gerrit Cole enjoys having Maldonado as his battery mate.
Martin Maldonado has had a decade and a half-long career in the major leagues, despite his poor production with the bat.
He served six seasons as a catcher for the Houston Astros, becoming a favorite for most of its pitching staff, including Gerrit Cole. Cole had two excellent seasons at Houston and finished in the top-five for the Cy Young Award in both years.
Therefore, Maldonado could become a trade deadline target for the New York Yankees, as their first-choice catcher Jose Trevino landed on the IL just before the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the team is going through a massive slump, with an 8-18 record over the past month, and its pitching staff has come under fire after a solid start to the season.
Adding Maldonando to the roster should help the Bronx Bombers get better from a defensive standpoint. The 37-year-old is also known to be a leader in the clubhouse and can galvanize a team with his tenacity.
Maldonando trade move unlikely to appeal to Yankees fans
Despite the defensive upside Martin Maldonado brings, a trade move for him, even on waivers, is not likely to be a very popular choice among Yankees fans. Other than Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and rookie Ben Rice, the team has been struggling offensively, as all the other hitters in the lineup are batting below .250.
Meanwhile, Maldonado has always been a below-average hitter during his entire career. His offensive numbers have dropped to the point where they can no longer be compensated by his defensive prowess. This season, he has slashed just .119/.174/.230 with a meager 14 OPS+, which ranks among the worst in the MLB.
Even though the injury to Jose Trevino is a big blow for the Bombers, promoting backup catcher Austin Wells to an everyday role would seem to be a better choice than bringing in Martin Maldonado.