Over a month after the San Diego Padres designated him for assignment, catcher Martín Maldonado is signing a minor league contract to land with the Padres once again.
Maldonado played in 64 games this season for San Diego before his departure. He struggled offensively, recording a subpar .572 OPS (56 OPS+) while also struggling to maintain his once Gold Glove-winning defensive ability behind the plate.
The Padres were active at the deadline, bringing in multiple new position players, such as catcher Freddy Fermín from the Kansas City Royals. The sudden influx of players meant the team had to make room for their new players, leading Maldonado to be designated for assignment.
One week later, Maldonado was released and became a free agent. Weeks passed with the 15-year veteran on the open market with seemingly no interested teams. Now, he reunites with the Padres on a minor league deal as they gear up for their final push into the postseason.
The contract became effective before the start of September, meaning he is eligible as an injury replacement on the playoff roster if catchers Fermín or Elías Díaz are required to miss time.
Maldonado is ramping up in Arizona as an option in the event of an injury, according to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
With Fermín hitting .257 in his 24 games with the Padres and Díaz proving to be a serviceable backup option, the path for Maldonado to make his return to the clubhouse is difficult. Assuming a healthy final finish from Fermín and Díaz, fans likely won’t see Maldonado suit up for the Friars again this season.
This reunion may also prove troublesome for Triple-A catcher Luis Campusano. The addition of Maldonado may block the 26-year-old Campusano from receiving a promotion before the season's end. Campusano failed to record a hit in 27 plate appearances this season with the Padres before being sent down to their Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas.
San Diego now has more flexibility in the catcher position as it heads into the final month of the regular season and looks to claim a postseason spot. If the need for a catcher arises, the Padres can now choose between Campusano and the 15-year veteran Maldonado.