The Detroit Tigers wasted no time in the off-season by trading outfielder Cameron Maybin to the Los Angeles Angels.
We had heard coming into the off-season that Detroit Tigers GM Al Avila was going to trim payroll. I didn’t think it would happen this quickly.
Outfielder Cameron Maybin had a $9 million option for 2017. The Tigers decided to take the option and then immediately ship him out.
Maybin, heading to #Angels, has $9 million club option. First to report #Tigers were working on deal: @beckjason.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 3, 2016
Maybin likely will play LF for #Angels. Trout will remain in center.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 3, 2016
#Angels announce trade: Minor-league RHP Victor Alcantara to #Tigers for Maybin.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 3, 2016
The Tigers had re-acquired Maybin last off-season from the Atlanta Braves to play center for them. He battled injury problems, but posted a .315 average with an .801 OPS in 94 games.
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The 23 year old Alcantara reached AA for the first time in the Angels system. There, he went 3-7 with a 4.30 ERA. In 111 innings, he struck out just 79 and had a 1.468 WHIP. According to MLBpipeline.com, Alcantara was the Angels eighth overall prospect.
Left field was a black hole for the Angels in 2016. The combination of Rafael Ortega, Daniel Nava, Craig Gentry produced a whopping three homers and 39 RBI. The Angels had some money to spend with guys like Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson coming off the books this off-season. An outfield of Maybin, Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun gives them a nice place to start and a nice top of the order to build on.
For the Tigers, this is a salary dump and the beginning of trimming of payroll for a team that didn’t reach the playoffs last season after expecting to get there. The real question is who could be next. Will J.D. Martinez follow? Justin Upton? Could they deal Miguel Cabrera?
On the field, the Tigers need a centerfielder next year. They got Maybin because Anthony Gose wasn’t producing. Now he looks like the next in line. Tyler Collins could also be an internal option. Top prospect JaCoby Jones may have the athleticism to play there. He started five games at the big league level along with 66 games in the minors there this past year.. Is 2017 his time?
Next: Francona and Bullpenning
It’s going to be an interesting off-season in Detroit and today’s transaction may just be the beginning for that.