Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Maxwell, who played in 127 games with the Oakland’s A’s through three seasons though is remembered nationally for kneeling during the national anthem before others in MLB would follow his lead, is back on a Bay Area team.
The Giants traded for the veteran catcher from the Mets in exchange for cash considerations on Sunday. The 30-year-old Maxwell is believed to be heading to Double-A Richmond, with Joey Bart (and typically Chadwick Tromp) at Triple-A Sacramento. There is an opening with Richmond, as catcher Andres Angulo is playing for Colombia in the Olympic qualifier.
Maxwell had appeared in nine games with the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in a comeback season, having played in Mexico in 2019 and 2020. He last appeared in the big leagues in 2018, with the A’s, and has a lifetime major league slashline of .240/.314/.347. He has a minor league history of getting on base, with an on-base percentage of .341.
Maxwell will be remembered for taking a knee in protest of police brutality, the first in MLB to follow Colin Kaepernick’s NFL lead. Many on the Giants, including manager Gabe Kapler, took a knee last year after the killing of George Floyd.
Shortly after becoming a sudden symbol across the league, Maxwell was arrested for allegedly pointing a firearm at a food-delivery driver in Arizona. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years of probation on a disorderly conduct charge.