Detroit Tigers: Three Potential Cameron Maybin Trades

Detroit Tigers fans may see a different team next season. General manager Al Avila is looking to make the team younger and more cost-conscious. Here are some trades involving Cameron Maybin.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Cameron Maybin enjoyed a fine season in his return to Comerica Park.

The former first-round pick turned in a 2.0 WAR in just 94 games. The veteran hit .315 with a robust .383 on-base percentage. Maybin also chipped in with 65 runs scored, 43 RBI, 23 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases.

Often serving as a top-of-the-order catalyst, the 29-year-old isn’t a lock to return to the Tigers. Per Spotrac, Detroit holds a $9 million option on Maybin’s contract for next season.

If they decline it, he becomes a free agent. If the Tigers pick up the option, the team can either start him in center fielder or trade him.

It remains to be seen what Detroit does with Maybin’s contract, but if they trade him, the Tigers could get some solid pieces in return.

Of all center fielders with at least 350 plate appearances, the former Padre finished third in on-base percentage, seventh in wRC+ and eighth in wOBA.

After Ian Desmond and Dexter Fowler (who has a mutual option on his contract, according to Spotrac) Maybin is perhaps the best all-around option in a market that includes the likes of Michael Bourn, Coco Crisp and Austin Jackson.

Here are three trades involving Maybin that could benefit the Detroit Tigers in both the long and short term.

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.

Scenario #3 Detroit Tigers Trade Cameron Maybin to the Houston Astros for outfielder Jake Marisnick and reliever James Hoyt

Already with a loaded infield featuring Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Yulieski Gurriel and Alex Bregman, Houston’s outfield doesn’t boast the same depth.

George Springer is the unquestioned starter in right, but the rest of the outfield is composed of the unproven or underperforming group of Tony Kemp, Marisnick, Colby Rasmus and Teoscar Hernandez.

With Rasmus scheduled to become a free agents, the Astros could use Maybin.

As a whole, Astros outfielders finished 28^th in runs scored and 29^th in wRC+.

In return, Detroit gets an elite defender in Marisnick who isn’t eligible for arbitration until after next season. At his best, the center fielder is a stolen base threat who also contributes with some pop.

Over the course of 133 games for Houston in 2015, the 25-year-old stole scored 46 runs, hit .236, drove in 36 runs and stole 24 bases. He also contributed 15 doubles, nine home runs and four triples. In terms of more specific statistics, the former Marlin posted a 3.9 BsR, an 82 wRC+ and a 1.9 WAR.

While his numbers at the plate dropped this past season (.209 batting average, 58 wRC+ and a 0.9 WAR), he still remains an excellent defender. As a player who hits at the bottom of the order while providing speed and elite defense, Marisnick would be an excellent addition.

Hoyt

Unlike most prospects with upside, James Hoyt is already 30-years-old. However the reliever could be an intriguing addition to Detroit’s bullpen.

The right-hander sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and can throw two above-average off-speed offerings. Hoyt posted a 1.64 ERA in Triple-A with 93 strikeouts in 55 innings.

He continued to fan batters at the Major League level in 2016. During 22 innings for the Astros, Hoyt struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings while posting 15.2 swinging strike percentage. What’s more, his SIERA over that span was a sparkling 2.96 SIERA.

Next: 3 Potential J.D. Martinez Trades

The former Atlanta farmhand could slot in immediately as a late-inning arm for the Detroit Tigers.