With the calendar flipping to September, teams across the majors are calling up players from the minor leagues as rosters expand from 26 to 28 players.
The Houston Astros didn’t make any major callups from the minors to start this month, but they did get back starting pitcher Luis Garcia and outfielder Taylor Trammell from the injured list. The Astros hope that these recent reinforcements will help them win the AL West title and make the postseason.
At the same time, this is also a precarious time for many free agents and former Astros players looking to find their next opportunity before the season’s end. For example, we will see players get signed to minor league deals this week, which allows them to make one last push for the big league roster.
This is the case for former Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, who is reportedly returning to the San Diego Padres on a minor league deal, per MadFriars on Twitter/X.
Three-plus weeks after he went unclaimed and was released, Martin Maldonado signs a minor league contract with the Padres. He'll head to Peoria to get ramped back up.
— MadFriars - The source for Padres Prospects news (@madfriars) September 1, 2025
Ex-Astros Veteran Martin Maldonado Rejoins Padres After Release in August
The 39-year-old Maldonado was kicked to the curb by San Diego on August 6 after being designated for assignment at the trade deadline on July 31. The former Astros catcher didn't get any interest on the open market, leading him back to San Diego.
The writing was on the wall for the ex-Astros catcher as the Padres acquired Freddy Fermin in a trade from the Kansas City Royals, making Maldonado expendable. That said, he’s now getting a second chance with the Padres, who are sending him down to their Arizona complex.
It’s unclear if Maldonado will be able to be on the postseason roster, as deals had to be signed by August 31. The Padres likely won’t need the former Astro as they have Fermin and Elias Diaz.
When he was with the big league club earlier this season, the ex-Astros catcher struggled at the plate. Maldonado hit a pedestrian .204 with four home runs and 12 RBI across 64 games.
In his final month with the Padres, the right-handed-hitting catcher actually slugged .278 with three doubles and four doubles in 16 games. However, you can’t blame San Diego for going with a younger option in Fermin (30 years old), who is slightly better offensively.
That said, it will be interesting to see if the ex-Astro can make it back to the majors or be sent to Triple-A El Paso in the coming week, as their season wraps up on Sept. 21.