Cubs Deal Martin Maldonado to Houston Astros for Tony Kemp Weeks After Acquiring Him
By Adam Weinrib
We'd heard rumors the Cubs were already shopping their pre-deadline acquisition Martin Maldonado once it was somewhat clear Willson Contreras would return swiftly from injury.
And guess what?!
Maldonado's now heading to Houston, the place he wrapped up the 2018 season.
#Astros acquire catcher Martín Maldonado from #Cubs, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2019
Maldonado's Cubs stint would be viewed as a "Mike Piazza to the Marlins" situation if he were slightly more notorious; he went hitless in 11 at-bats in Chicago over the course of four games.
Initially signed at a remarkable discount by the Royals earlier this offseason to fill in for the injured Salvador Perez, Maldonado will now rejoin an Astros team he seemed to fit in nicely with after arriving from the Angels midway through 2018.
The return? Astros utility man Tony Kemp, recently DFA'd and thought likely to be involved in a move for a pitcher.
Tony Kemp is headed to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Martin Maldonado, the Chronicle has learned.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 31, 2019
Instead, he'll fill a veteran jack-of-all-trades role in Chicago that Daniel Descalso has thus far failed to embody.