Jun 10, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Martin Maldonado (15) is congratulated by Luis Arraez (4) after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Padres Veteran to Retire After 2025 Season

Originally posted on San Diego Padres on SI
By Nelson Espinal | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 2:00 PM ET

A San Diego Padres veteran is planning on retiring from Major League Baseball after a long career in the majors, finishing out the rest of the 2025 season and sailing off into the sunset.

Catcher Martin Maldonado is going to retire at the age of 39 after 15 years in MLB, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. During his lengthy career, he won a Gold Glove award and the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros.

During his career, he never hit above .240 for a single season. Maldonado made his living as a defensive catcher — working well with pitchers and protecting the plate at a high level.

He came over to San Diego during the offseason, joining a platoon of catchers that also features Elias Diaz and Luis Campusano.

Martin Maldonado…

Why not ‍♂️

pic.twitter.com/KSo4Ix5iaY
— Padres Nation (@NationPadres) June 11, 2025

In 2025, Maldonado is batting .184/.229/.301 with three home runs and seven RBIs. He has played in 44 games, racking up 113 plate appearances.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Maldonado already planned out his post-playing career.

"He says he wants to take a year off after retirement, and then is interested in getting back in the game on a coaching staff," Nightengale reported in an article.

Maldonado's spot on the roster is not guaranteed if the Padres decide to pursue an upgrade at the catcher spot.

It is one of the positions the team is looking to upgrade, but left field and pitching are more urgent needs.

Regardless of how his career ends, Maldonado's experience should give him a chance to get a solid coaching gig.

Congrats to Martin Maldonado on a great run with the #Astros. Helped the team in so many ways during the golden era & managed the staff well. Great leader

WS Champ
3x ALCS Champ
3 no hitters
2 immaculate innings
6 straight postseasons

Iconic quote
pic.twitter.com/dNgU7ueVbC
— Maanav Gupta (@MGSportsTalk) December 6, 2023