HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have acquired catcher Martín Maldonado from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for left-handed pitcher Patrick Sandoval and international bonus pool money. The announcement was made by Astros President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jeff Luhnow.
Maldonado, who was a 2017 American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, will join the Astros in Houston and will be available to the media prior to Friday's 7:10 p.m. CT game against the Texas Rangers.
Maldonado, 31, has spent the 2018 season as the Angels starting catcher, posting a .223 batting average (59x265) with 14 doubles, five home runs and 32 RBI in 78 games. In his 77 starts behind the dish, Maldonado has posted the second-best caught stealing percentage among all Major League catchers at 40% (10CS/25ATT), behind only Salvador Perez (42.9%) of the Kansas City Royals.
Sandoval, 21, was selected by the Astros in the 11th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. In 19 games (13 starts) split between Class A Quad Cities (14g) and Class A Advanced Buies Creek (5g) this season, the left-handed pitcher has posted a 9-1 record with a 2.56 ERA (25ER/88IP) and 97 strikeouts.
With the addition of Maldonado to the 25-man roster, the Astros have subsequently designated C Tim Federowicz for assignment.
 
-ASTROS-