Maybin To The Tigers

[smootness]

I just keep scratching my head trying to figure out what planet the management is on and where the heck they are heading....... we went from having the youngest team in the majors (2014) to now sporting one of the oldest it seems, plus 30 players.. Bourne, Markakis, Swisher, Olivera, Pierzinski, Moylan, Grilli, Garcia, Aybar. Seems like a strange way to rebuild. Sure our rotation is young but really all these old guys are for what means??

If you're just looking for a young team, have no fear. We're heading there very, very soon.

[zbhargrove]

So many people vastly overrating Maybin's value... hint, with his contract, there was very little. They did try and trade him at the deadline... no takers.

[nsacpi]

So many people vastly overrating Maybin's value... hint, with his contract, there was very little. They did try and trade him at the deadline... no takers.

Yup. He was being paid almost exactly what his projected production is worth on the FA market. Meaning very little surplus value which is what drives a player's trade value. But I think JC was implying in an interview earlier this week that there were several teams wanting him at the trade deadline and the fact that the club didn't trade him there was some sort of proof that they were not tanking. Well that's a completely different issue and has to be viewed as the sort of clumsy spinning that is rapidly becoming one of JC's trademarks.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Yup. He was being paid almost exactly what his projected production is worth on the FA market. Meaning very little surplus value which is what drives a player's trade value. But I think JC was implying in an interview earlier this week that there were several teams wanting him at the trade deadline and the fact that the club didn't trade him there was some sort of proof that they were not tanking. Well that's a completely different issue and has to be viewed as the sort of clumsy spinning that is rapidly becoming one of JC's trademarks.

Don't criticize me! I'm tired of it!

[Chico]

My first reaction is kinda meh, but this smells like a precursor trade.

[clvclv]

What we need are runs.

Hate to single this statement out, but if people believe that's the case, why were they upset with the Simmons trade?

[The Chosen One]

Hate to single this statement out, but if people believe that's the case, why were they upset with the Simmons trade?

Because we didn't get any position players back?

And it's carried over in the Maybin trade as well. More pitchers, more tommy john.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Because we didn't get any position players back?

And it's carried over in the Maybin trade as well. More pitchers, more tommy john.

Welcome to the Braves Way

[GovClintonTyree]

Hate to single this statement out, but if people believe that's the case, why were they upset with the Simmons trade?

Yeah, the Don is right. Plus Simmons is the exception. If you're going to have some defense-first guys, he's the one.

I would love to hear, when Teheran and Miller go, that they went for almost-ready hitters.

[GovClintonTyree]

Yup. He was being paid almost exactly what his projected production is worth on the FA market. Meaning very little surplus value which is what drives a player's trade value. But I think JC was implying in an interview earlier this week that there were several teams wanting him at the trade deadline and the fact that the club didn't trade him there was some sort of proof that they were not tanking. Well that's a completely different issue and has to be viewed as the sort of clumsy spinning that is rapidly becoming one of JC's trademarks.

Regarding that particular clumsy spin, it also tells me that he missed an opportunity because Maybin tricked him into thinking he was more than he was. Or, perhaps Young Jedi started believing his own press, that he had uncovered a gem.

[GovClintonTyree]

My first reaction is kinda meh, but this smells like a precursor trade.

More like a postcursor. Einstein went and got Bourn so he had doubles. Couldn't offload Bourn, so took what he could for Maybin. Which, apparently, was not much.

That Speier, though, I'll bet he has a lot of projectability. Also pitchability.

[GovClintonTyree]

Don't criticize me! I'm tired of it!

Not to overanalyze, but doesn't he look defensive in the pic? Hunched in the corner, where nobody can stab him?

[GovClintonTyree]

Ahh yep

Has anyone checked for an umbrella in the left field bleachers?

[50PoundHead]

So many people vastly overrating Maybin's value... hint, with his contract, there was very little. They did try and trade him at the deadline... no takers.

I kind of chuckle. I don't know if anyone is being inconsistent, but when we obtained Maybin there was no robust "Oh! Look who we just traded for!" When he had a solid first half the chorus from many was "Just wait!" We don't move him at the deadline and while some thought he should have been moved, the return would have likely been very similar to what we received now. I like Maybin's tools, but he just hasn't been able to apply them consistently. I thought Seitzer had solved him, but then he took a nosedive. He's really a highly-paid 4th OF.

[Julio3000]

Hate to single this statement out, but if people believe that's the case, why were they upset with the Simmons trade?

I know this was answered already, but I wanted to expand on it a little bit. Aybar doesn't significantly improve the offense. Sure, he's an upgrade on Tron, but likely only a marginal one. He could surprise us, but I think it's unlikely. So we got more pitching prospects. Those prospects give us depth to trade from to acquire offense. That's fine, but until it happens it's purely speculative, so I suspect it's going to be an active topic of conversation.

As for the Maybin trade, I understand it. It makes sense to move his salary, and I understand that we can only expect so much in return. Still, I liked Cam and thought he was a good guy to have around. His positive attitude and hustle seemed like a good thing to have in the dugout and clubhouse.

Personally, it's another tough moment in this stretch for me--guys I like and have developed a rooting interest in getting a ticket out of town: JHey, Tron, Cam, Kelly...and Julio may be next. Tough times.

[clvclv]

So many people vastly overrating Maybin's value... hint, with his contract, there was very little. They did try and trade him at the deadline... no takers.

To be honest, I've probably been Cam's biggest supporter since before he was traded for AND when everyone wanted to trade him. The main thing the trade signals (to me) is that the brass seems to be pretty confident that Mallex is going to be capable of producing at (at least) the same level as Maybin or Bourn at a pretty early point this season. I'd buy (and several times made) the argument that Cam's highest value was to us - he:

1.) is better than Bourn for the "win now" crowd
2.) saved the team money in the long run with nothing other than his presence by keeping Bourn's option from vesting
3.) had the "perfect" contract - as nsacpi points out, he was making about what he's worth - and that contract wouldn't get in the way of promoting Smith at any point. You were going to be able to get SOMETHING for him when you decided it was Mallex' time, even if it wasn't something "great" (which certainly seems to be the case here) or you decided to allocate his money elsewhere.

There were a whole lot of people (here in particular) who loved to point out that Cameron wasn't much of a player - many hated his defense (and it wasn't as good as it had been in the past), and consistently pointed out that he wasn't "the answer" with his 0.6 WAR. His bat showed more signs of improvement than Andrelton's, even if that wasn't enough to make him a consistent threat to help the offense much. He's a high-energy, sometimes exciting player who gives his all every day and absolutely loved being here.

In the end, he is what he is. Without being in the middle of a hot streak and with other free-agent options available to everyone else, we probably got about what you'd hope to get for him - a couple of lottery tickets. You save some money that you CAN spend elsewhere. It remains to be seen where that money will be spent. The Tigers traded for one year of the right-handed half of a platoon at slightly below market value. If the trade were reversed and we gave up two under-25 LHPs for that, many people here would be just as upset.

[Julio3000]

Wait, there's a "win now" crowd?

[clvclv]

I know this was answered already, but I wanted to expand on it a little bit. Aybar doesn't significantly improve the offense. Sure, he's an upgrade on Tron, but likely only a marginal one. He could surprise us, but I think it's unlikely. So we got more pitching prospects. Those prospects give us depth to trade from to acquire offense. That's fine, but until it happens it's purely speculative, so I suspect it's going to be an active topic of conversation.

As for the Maybin trade, I understand it. It makes sense to move his salary, and I understand that we can only expect so much in return. Still, I liked Cam and thought he was a good guy to have around. His positive attitude and hustle seemed like a good thing to have in the dugout and clubhouse.

Personally, it's another tough moment in this stretch for me--guys I like and have developed a rooting interest in getting a ticket out of town: JHey, Tron, Cam, Kelly...and Julio may be next. Tough times.

Exactly my take on it. I loved having him here - local kid (his Uncle's an acquaintance of mine) who's a really good guy. I still have his Tigers jersey hanging in my mancave (haven't gotten his Braves jersey yet, but still plan to order one to hang beside it). Really hate seeing him go from a personal standpoint, but I get it. I just hope it works out.

[Russ2dollas]

I'm fine with the trade. He's not that good and we will suck nxt yr

I do not get the surplus of comments. Bourn and swisher are not players. They are Chris Johnson's salary moved to this yr so it will be gone in magical 17. The can't play bc they suck and bc of their vesting clauses. If u had a surplus of problem just cut them.

Plus the other of bat is bc they gave away a stud pitcher under control and a good prospect for an ok over 40 bat without a position

[Russ2dollas]

The only way I see this cost savings helping us is if we take on someone else's Melvin upton contract in exchange for a b prospect or better bat