Detroit Tigers: Three Potential Cameron Maybin Trades

Scenario #1 Detroit Tigers trade Cameron Maybin and Andrew Romine to the New York Mets for outfielder Juan Lagares and prospects Thomas Szapucki and Patrick Mazeika

A quick glance at the New York Mets depth chart and it is easy to see that the New York Mets value offensive corner outfielders. Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson, Jay Bruce, Michael Conforto and Alejandro De Aza logged the majority of the at-bats at all three outfield positions while Juan Lagares was relegated to the bench.

By acquiring Maybin, New York would bring in an offensive outfielder to take over in center field who is also a solid defender.

If Detroit wants to get younger and trim salary, Romine could be moved in order to make way for someone like Dixon Machado or JaCoby Jones on the bench. Additionally, with Neil Walker, Kelly Johnson and Jose Reyes all potentially hitting free agency, the Mets could use the infield depth.

In return, the Tigers would receive an elite defensive center fielder in Lagares. The 27-year-old routinely posts outstanding defensive metrics. In a two-year stretch from 2013 to 2014, he posted a 6.9 dWAR and a 9.2 WAR.

While Lagares may never win a Silver Slugger, he does enough on offense to warrant a regular place in the lineup. The center fielder has routinely reduced his strikeout rate every year he spends in the Majors while also posting 84 wRC+ that was equal to that of Tyler Collins.

Per Spotrac, Lagares will only make $2.5 million next year.

Prospects

Rounding out the deal are a pair of prospects in Thomas Szapucki and Patrick Mazeika.

A fifth-round pick in 2015, Szapucki has thrown just 54.1 professional innings, but he’s already posted some intriguing numbers. The lefty struck out 89 batters since joining the Mets organization, that’s good for 14.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

What’s more, he’s only allowed 3.3 walks per nine innings and 0.3 home runs per nine frames. Szapucki’s ERA over that span is a sparkling 1.99.

Last but not least is Mazeika, who MLB.com calls “an on-base machine.” The catcher, who can also play first base has excelled at the plate. He’s hit .329 with a .901 OPS in 135 career minor league games split between Rookie-level ball and Single-A from 2015 to 2016.

The prospect also produced 83 RBI, 78 runs scored, 41 doubles, eight home runs and three stolen bases. The Stetson University product also struck out just 65 times while registering 62 walks over the same span.