Maldonado, Astros agree to contract for ’22 adding $5.5M

<p>HOUSTON &mdash; Catcher Martín Maldonado and the Houston Astros have agreed to a $5.5 million, one-year contract for 2022.</p>
<p>The deal announced Wednesday includes a $5 million salary for 2022 and a $5 million team option for 2023 with a $500,000 buyout. His contract provides that he get a hotel suite on road trips plus award bonuses.</p>
<p>Maldonado is making $3.5 million in 2021, the second season of a $7 million, two-year contract. His 2020 pay was reduced to about $1.296 million by the coronavirus pandemic.</p>
<p>A Gold Glove winner in 2017, the 34-year-old Maldonado is 3 for 34 (.088) with no RBIs in 37 plate appearances this season. He has a .216 career average with 69 homers and 244 RBIs.</p>
<p>The Astros credit him for helping 15 rookie pitchers last season, including 10 who made their major league debuts.</p>
<p>He would have been eligible for free agency after the World Series.</p>
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