HOUSTON – Astros are finalizing a one-year contract extension with Puerto Rican receiver Martin Maldonado, a deal that would keep him in Houston until the end of 2022, with an option for 2023, a source told MLB’s Mark Feinsand. .
After acquiring Maldonado in a mid-season deal, two years in a row, Astros signed a veteran mask contract for two seasons before 2020. Last season, he started 46 of the 60 games and was in all , except for one of the post-season games. He started slowly in 2021, going 3-for-32 with 15 shots before Tuesday’s game, but he is one of the club’s leaders and a solid defender.
The pact, once finalized, would mean that Astros will once again have the Maldonado-Jason Castro duo in custody until 2022. Castro signed for two seasons in January. Maldonado and Castro are one of two active capture pairs who have at least 400 career starts (Alexs Avila and Yan Gomes from Nationals are the other).