MLB Trade: Detroit Tigers acquire outfielder Cameron Maybin
The Tigers have acquired Cameron Maybin
On Friday afternoon, the Detroit Tigers made the move to acquire outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitchers Ian Krol and Gabe Speier.
For Maybin, it will be his third team in less than a calendar year, having been traded from the San Diego Padres in April as a part of the deal that sent Craig Kimbrel to the Padres. The 28-year-old played all of 2015 with the Braves and enjoyed a mini-resurgence as the team’s everyday center fielder, hitting .267 while hitting 10 home runs and stealing 23 bases and driving in a career-best 59 runs.
Maybin will earn $8M in 2016, and carries a club option for 2017 as well. He will likely compete for time with incumbent Tigers center fielder Anthony Gose, who also stole 23 bases a year ago, while hitting .254. The speedy Maybin will also be looked at to be a defensive upgrade up the middle, in the fashion that former Tiger outfielder Austin Jackson represented.
The trade also returns Maybin to his original professional organization, as the Tigers made him the 10th overall selection in the 2005 draft, before making his Major League debut with the club in 2007.
In exchange for Maybin, the Tigers sent a pair of young left-handers to the Braves. The 24-year-old Krol worked to a 5.79 ERA over 33 games last season, all out of the bullpen. He was originally acquired from the Washington Nationals as part of the 2013 deal that sent Doug Fister to D.C. In 110 career appearances, he carries a 4.91 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 88 innings.
The 20-year-old Speier carried a 2.67 ERA in 33 appearances at Level-A West Michigan last season. He was acquired prior to last season as a part of the Rick Porcello deal with the Boston Red Sox.
The move is the second in the week for Tigers, who also acquired closer Francisco Rodriguez on Wednesday in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.