Machete is headed to Detroit, and the Tigers are about to find out what Astros pitchers knew for years: Martín Maldonado takes his baseball seriously, and he expects everyone around him to do the same.
Maldonado is reportedly joining the Tigers as their quality control coach for the 2027 season, reuniting with manager A.J. Hinch and former Astros teammate Framber Valdez. The Athletic first reported the hiring Friday, October 16, and MLB.com subsequently reported the agreement, citing sources.
Detroit has not formally announced the appointment, but the move would give Maldonado an opportunity to begin the next stage of his baseball career alongside two familiar faces.
For Astros fans, it is another reminder of how many members of Houston’s championship-era teams have found new homes throughout baseball.
Maldonado Reunites With A.J. Hinch
Maldonado’s connection with Hinch dates to 2018, when Houston acquired the veteran catcher from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline.
The Astros wanted an experienced, defensively skilled catcher who could manage a pitching staff featuring Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. Maldonado quickly established himself as a trusted presence behind the plate.
After leaving as a free agent, he returned to Houston in another trade the following summer, again playing under Hinch.
Maldonado remained with the Astros through 2023, eventually becoming one of the team’s most recognizable clubhouse leaders. Although his offensive production was frequently criticized, his preparation, defensive knowledge, and relationships with pitchers made him an important part of Houston’s success.
He helped the Astros reach three World Series during his time with the organization, including their championship victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022.
Now, years after their first season together, Hinch and Maldonado will work alongside each other again in Detroit.
Another Familiar Face: Framber Valdez
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Maldonado’s move is his reunion with Valdez.
The two developed a particularly strong working relationship in Houston, with Maldonado catching many of Valdez’s most memorable performances.
He was behind the plate when Valdez threw his no-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians on August 1, 2023, and caught the left-hander during Houston’s World Series-clinching victory over Philadelphia in 2022.
According to reporting from The Detroit News, Maldonado caught 91 of Valdez’s games during their years together in Houston, more than twice as many as any other catcher.
That familiarity could be particularly valuable following Valdez’s uneven first season in Detroit.
After signing a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers, Valdez finished 2026 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.362 WHIP, both higher than his previous marks since becoming a full-time starter in 2020.
The Tigers already employ Ryan Sienko as catching coach, so Maldonado’s exact responsibilities within the staff have yet to be announced.
From World Series Champion to Coach
Maldonado retired from Major League Baseball in October 2025 after a career spanning 15 seasons and 1,230 regular-season games.
Known affectionately as “Machete,” he earned a Gold Glove Award with the Angels in 2017 and caught three no-hitters during his time with Houston, including two combined no-hitters.
One of his most remarkable achievements came in June 2022, when he became the first catcher in Major League history to catch two immaculate innings in the same game.
Maldonado’s reputation for preparation was legendary in Houston. In a 2021 Houston Chronicle profile, Chandler Rome reported that Carlos Correa requested a hotel room adjoining Maldonado’s on road trips so the two could discuss baseball. While teammates slept during flights, Maldonado studied opposing hitters and developed his own scouting reports, sometimes spending hours preparing for a single postseason game.
His influence extended beyond strategy. Maldonado worked to understand his pitchers as individuals, recognizing that their confidence, personalities, and lives away from baseball could affect their performances. Lance McCullers Jr., who had encouraged Hinch to acquire Maldonado after watching him play for the Angels, later described him as “the glue of our team.”
His final Major League season came with the San Diego Padres in 2025, although he returned to international competition for Puerto Rico during the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
He subsequently spent the 2026 season as a special assistant with the Atlanta Braves, gaining experience in baseball operations after his playing career ended.
Maldonado has made no secret of his ambitions beyond coaching. When discussing his retirement with MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart last October, he said his ultimate goal was to manage in the Major Leagues.
The Tigers’ quality control position represents an important step toward that goal. Those years of studying hitters, guiding pitchers, and earning the trust of teammates may prove just as valuable in his new role as anything he accomplished behind the plate.
A New Chapter for an Astros Favorite
Maldonado’s arrival comes as Detroit reshapes its coaching staff following the 2026 season.
The quality control position became vacant during the summer when Billy Boyer moved to third-base coach. The Tigers also have openings at first-base coach and assistant pitching coach following the departures of Anthony Sanders and Juan Nieves.
For Maldonado, joining Hinch offers an opportunity to learn from a manager he already knows while gaining experience in a different role.
For Valdez, the move brings a familiar voice back into the clubhouse after a challenging first season with Detroit.
And for Astros fans who fondly remember Maldonado’s contributions to Houston’s championship teams, it offers an opportunity to follow another former favorite into the next chapter of his baseball career.
Maldonado’s leadership, preparation, and remarkable understanding of pitchers helped define an era of Astros baseball. Now, the man they call Machete will bring that same knowledge and determination to the Detroit dugout, beginning a new chapter in a career built on earning the trust and respect of those around him.
Photo credit: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
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