Astros agree to deal with Caratini, bolster catching depth (source)
The Astros bolstered their catching depth Tuesday night in a move likely to spell the end of Martín Maldonado’s time in Houston.
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Free-agent catcher Victor Caratini and the Astros reached an agreement on a contract, a source told MLB.com. The club has not confirmed the news.
Caratini, a veteran of seven Major League seasons, spent the past two years with the Brewers after stints with the Cubs and Padres. As the primary backup to William Contreras in Milwaukee in 2023, the 30-year-old Puerto Rico native hit .259 with seven home runs, 25 RBIs and a .710 OPS. According to Statcast metrics, he was an above-average pitch framer for the Brewers last season.
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With Yainer Díaz expected to be Houston’s primary catcher in 2024, the Astros’ reported agreement with Caratini likely means Maldonado will not return to the team. Maldonado, 37, is a free agent after spending parts of ’18 and ’19 and the entirety of the past four seasons with the Astros. According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the veteran backstop has received interest from multiple clubs.
