Report: Royals not optimistic about adding Martin Maldonado

The Kansas City Royals are in need of a catcher, but things appear to be moving in the wrong direction with one obvious target.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Royals have had discussions with free agent catcher Martin Maldonado, but the two sides do not appear to be progressing toward a deal.

The Royals have been talking to Martin Maldonado, the most obvious potential Salvy replacement from the outside, but as of this moment there’s a gap and KC people don’t sound overly optimistic. That can change of course.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 7, 2019

The Royals have an opening at catcher after Salvador Perez underwent Tommy John surgery, which will keep him out for the entirety of 2019. Maldonado would seem to be a natural fit as a replacement, but perhaps he’d like a more secure long-term opportunity.