The Houston Astros, searching for catching depth as they make another postseason run, receive catcher Martin Maldonado from the Los Angeles Angels for a young prospect, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
The 31-year old Maldonado is hitting .223/.284/.332 with five home runs and 32 RBI’s for the Angels this season. While it is higher than his career average of .219, Maldonado did win a Gold Glove last year. He has also spent parts of six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Angels.
The Houston Astros have been one of the worst teams at throwing out runners stealing bases. Currently, the Astros rank 22nd in the MLB with a caught-stealing percentage of 24.6. For the season, Maldonando’s caught-stealing percentage is approximately 37, demonstrating that he will add quality defense behind the plate. His pitch-framing and pitch calling have also been above average.
In return, the Angels are receiving a pitching prospect in Patrick Sandoval. He was pitching for Houston’s Single-A club the Quad Cities River Bandits, where he tallied 71 strikeouts, with a 2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 7-1 record. Having a pitcher like Sandoval in the Angels system will be critical as Los Angeles continues to build for the future.
With Brian McCann still on the 10-day DL with a knee injury, the Astros will have an immediate short-term impact at the catching position, with Maldonado splitting the duties with Max Stassi.
Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
