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Milwaukee Brewers: former catcher re-joins NL contender after going unclaimed on waivers

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 9:00 PM ET

The Milwaukee Brewers have one of the best catchers in the National League (and arguably in all Major League Baseball) in two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner William Contreras. Of course, Contreras is entering his third season with the Brewers after being acquired in a blockbuster trade that involved the Athletics and Atlanta Braves.

But Milwaukee has not always been blessed with such a stalwart behind the plate. Prior to acquiring Contreras, it seemed as if the Brewers had a series of stopgap players behind at the catcher position, unable to find one who could be their long-term solution.

One of these was Martin Maldonado, who has put together a nice long career, which included a World Series ring and Gold Glove Award, since leaving Milwaukee.

Former Milwaukee Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado has re-signed with the San Diego Padres

Milwaukee Brewers: former catcher re-joins NL contender after going unclaimed on waivers 1 Jul 6, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Martin Maldonado (15) hits an RBI single during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Maldonado played for the Brewers from 2011-2016, mostly as a backup catcher. Even then, though, it was evident that he was going to have a long career in the Majors because of how good of a defensive catcher he was.

However, despite his prowess in calling games and fielding the positions, Maldonado has always struggled at the plate. During his tenure in Milwaukee, he hit .217/.299/.342 with 28 home runs and 111 RBI (355 games). His best season was in 2012 when he appeared in 78 games and hit .266/.321/.408 with eight home runs and 30 RBI.

After the 2016 season, the Brewers traded Maldonado to the Los Angeles Angels for backup catcher Jett Bandy. In 2018, the Angles sent him to the Houston Astros via trade.

Following that season, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals, but was traded again in the middle of the season to the Chicago Cubs. A couple of weeks later, the Cubs turned around and traded him back to the Astros, with whom he played until 2023.

Maldonado signed with Chicago White Sox for the 2024 season, but was released midway through the year after he hit just .119/.174/.230 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 48 games.

He signed with the San Diego Padres for the 2025 season, but has hit just .204/.245/.327 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 64 games.

San Diego waived him a few weeks ago, but no other teams were interested in his services. And so, after going unclaimed, Maldonado is returning to the Padres on a new minor league contract:

Can confirm Martin Maldonado has been signed by the #Padres to a minor league deal and is ramping up in Arizona as an option in the event of injury. https://t.co/GoGYHZDhTw

— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) September 2, 2025

Since he has been out of baseball for a few weeks, the Padres are having Maldonado ramp up in Arizona in the Complex League so that he can be ready in case of an emergency.

San Diego, of course, are 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West, and currently hold the second wild card spot in the National League.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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