Detroit Tigers Cameron Maybin: Coming Full Circle

It is 2007, during an August interleague series between the Yankees and Tigers a young outfielder by the name of Cameron Maybin is playing in his second career game after his a long-awaited call up. The Yankees are in the midst of a pennant race as was were the Tigers, so the stage was set for a good late season matchup. But, on that day something would transpire that has always stuck with me.

Maybin stepped to the plate after going 0-4 the previous night and had to dig in against no other than Roger Clemens. As a young Yankee fan, Clemens was clearly one of the most dominant pitchers I had ever seen in pinstripes, so the matchup was one where I expected Clemens to always have the upper hand.

Maybin had been billed as one of the best prospects in baseball, but compared to Clemens and his acumen I figured the rookie was in for another long night. But, as is the beauty of baseball, Maybin would go on to not only single off Clemens, but also hit an absolute bomb off of him for his first career homer. From that day forward, I was sure that we all got to witness the birth of the next great outfielder in baseball.

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Unfortunately, things did not turn out that way. After that series in New York, Maybin struggled the rest of the season and his days in in Detriot were actually drawing to an end. The Tigers selected Maybin tenth overall in 2005 and Maybin had done well over his two minor league seasons. He looked every bit of their future stud center fielder, but the Tigers would ultimately strike a deal that they couldn’t turn down.

Right around this time in 2007, the Tigers and Marlins would swing a trade that would include the likes of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis heading to Detroit in return for a prospect haul including Maybin and some guy named Andrew Miller heading to Florida. This was a blockbuster deal and as we have seen would reshape the entire league for years to come.

Maybin was now with the Marlins and looked poised to finally break out with a full-time gig in center. Unluckily, that full-time chance never really game as he battled injuries and lack of production which had the baseball world deeming Maybin and the Marlins side of the deal as a complete bust.

After he never took off with the Marlins, they finally would cut ties and send him to San Diego where we would see the flashes of talent that Maybin was lauded for, but once again injuries and inconsistent production would be the story of his four year tenure with the Padres as well.

This brings us to last season where Maybin was looked at as just a throw in for the Braves in the deal that sent Craig Kimbrel to the Padres. At first we did not even know if the Braves were going to keep Maybin or just cut him, but they ultimately made the right decision as Maybin would go on to have a career best season in 2015.

He had nearly career bests across the board and it seemed as though he had finally found a home with the Braves until tonight when he was shipped back to Detroit. We will never know what would have happened if Maybin had been able to stay with Detroit after all these years, as the surprise trade in 2007 had to turn his life upside down and play some part in his struggles with Florida.

While he may not be that all world talent that scouts pegged him for, he does have the opportunity to bring everything full circle and produce for the team that he should have never left. I compare Maybin’s story somewhat to Alex Gordon in terms that they were both “can’t miss stars” who failed to get off the ground during their first handful of seasons in the bigs. While the Royals had the luxury of waiting around and seeing if Gordon could turn his career around, the Tigers acted in the opposite and decided to go into win now mode by swinging that deal and going for another World Series run.

From a fantasy perspective, Maybin’s ceiling compares greatly to Gordon’s baseline season totals, .264/14 HR/54 RBI. They both are plus defenders and Maybin has the added bonus of more speed, a value which he has always offered fantasy wise. I will not be one of those owners who chases Maybin’s 2015 stats just because it was the first time he has been fantasy relevant since 2011 and the trust just is not there for me.

That does not mean that I would not select him though in the mid rounds because Maybin still has that 15 HR/30 SB upside that will forever be enticing. The move from Turner Field to Comerica Park is somewhat of a push, since they both tend to be better pitchers parks. But, the move to atop the of the Tigers lineup will prove to be a nice boost in Maybin’s counting stats as he should slot in front of Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez.

Next: Logan Forsythe: Regression Candidate in '16?

Maybin entered the league at 20 years old and now has found himself back to where it all started nearly a decade later. Will he have some sort of renaissance back in a Tigers uniform? Who knows, but as has been the case of his entire career Maybin’s story will be intriguing to watch unfold. Stay tuned.