Cameron Maybin allegedly wrapped up in toxic Tigers culture explains silent departure

Former MLB journeyman and three-time Tigers outfielder Cameron Maybin left the Tigers' broadcast team after just one year on the job in 2023. What was then Bally Sports Detroit never made an official announcement that Maybin would be leaving the crew, but he took to Twitter (as too many often do) to pitch himself to basically any other broadcast that would have him.

It didn't really work. Maybin is still active as ever on Twitter and occasional co-host of Foul Territory, but he hasn't been in a broadcast booth or on MLB Network since 2023.

On Wednesday morning, Brittany Ghiroli and Alex Andrejev of The Athletic dropped a bombshell exposé that revealed "at least eight men employed by the Detroit Tigers, its business arm or broadcast partner have been accused of misconduct toward women since 2023, including four vice presidents and two other high-ranking employees."

Back in July, assistant GM Sam Menzin abruptly left the club; Menzin was later revealed to have been the subject of an internal investigation into alleged workplace misconduct directed toward at least two female Tigers employees. As it turns out, that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Perhaps the most public-facing name included in the laundry list of alleged perpetrators is Maybin. Ghiroli and Andrejev write that a Tigers HR rep started investigating complaints as early as May 2023, but Maybin remained on the broadcast through that season.

Ex-Tigers outfielder, broadcaster Cameron Maybin included in the Athletic's bombshell exposé on sexual misconduct in Detroit

Ghiroli and Andrejev write, "Early in the season, Maybin allegedly told one team employee he liked to watch her walk away from him, according to that woman and a person she told about the remark around the time it occurred. At least two women received late-night calls or messages from Maybin that they considered inappropriate. In one text message, viewed by The Athletic, Maybin wrote: 'probably not the best idea we hang I'm trying to stay married.' In another, after the woman declined to socialize with Maybin, he wrote: 'You can always stop by, my door is wide open for you.'"

The article also names Michael Lienert, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment's vice president of premium sales and private events; Josh Bullock, the vice president of business operations in Lakeland; Rob Gehring, director of video content production; Peter Soto, vice president of game presentation; Ben Fidelman, IS+E’s vice president of communications and broadcasting; and another former player and broadcaster Craig Monroe.

Lienert resigned amid an investigation; Bullock and Gehrig were fired as the result of investigations; Soto is currently under investigation; and Monroe was taken off the air in June 2024 after allegations of sexual abuse of a minor surfaced. Fidelman is still with IS+E and is their director of communications.

Maybin declined to comment to The Athletic and has been silent on Twitter since the article was dropped on Wednesday morning.