MLB free agent catcher Martin Maldonado is now rumored as the New York Mets fallback option if J.T. Realmuto is not acquired.
J.T. Realmuto—the name of the New York Mets moment. Everything within Brodie Van Wagenen’s universe seemingly surrounds the Miami Marlins All-Star catcher.
What happens if the idea doesn’t come to fruition? What would go down if the Mets decide Amed Rosario, Brandon Nimmo and/or Michael Conforto aren’t going anywhere?
A fallback is needed.
According to Jon Heyman of Fancred, MLB free agent catcher Martin Maldonado makes sense as the organization’s fallback option.
“The Mets are prioritizing defense at catcher. So if they don’t get Realmuto, Martin Maldonado remains a viable option.”
Don’t get it twisted—this isn’t an ironclad report. It’s simply speculation on the part of baseball man Heyman—one that makes an incredible degree of sense.
“Prioritizing defense at catcher” is the tidbit that excites the fanbase the most. For years under Sandy Alderson’s direction, the hard and fast guideline of “a walk and a blast” has dominated the Mets diamond. Rarely has defense been considered at a higher degree while on-base percentage and power appealed the front office at a maximum, destructive level.
Great questions still remain regarding young Van Wagenen, but at least the underrated aspect of “defense” is an active consideration.
Maldonado, 32, remains a fringe major-league starting catcher. In eight years as a pro, the former Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers backstop has only surpassed the 79 games played mark twice.
Smacking just 51 home runs to go along with 193 runs batted in and less than robust .220 average, Martin Maldonado screams defense at the infield spot.
