Detroit Tigers Would Benefit From A Healthy Cameron Maybin

Over the offseason, the Detroit Tigers made a couple of really big splashes in signing Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton, but they also made a couple of very solid under-the-radar moves as well. One of these moves was acquiring outfielder Cameron Maybin in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

Maybin was once a top prospect in the Tigers organization, and he was one of the centerpieces of the package that brought Miguel Cabrera from the Florida Marlins to the Tigers in December of 2007. Although he hasn’t quite had the type of MLB career that many expected up to this point, he did put up very solid numbers for the Braves just a season ago, hitting .267/.327/.370 with 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases. His defensive metrics weren’t great (-16 defensive runs saved), but he certainly has the speed and athleticism to bounce back in that department.

Early on in spring training of this year, however, Maybin suffered a broken wrist, and he has yet to appear in a game for the Tigers in 2016. He has been rehabbing in the minor leagues and recently suffered a shoulder injury as well, but it looks like it won’t be too serious.

So far this season, the Tigers haven’t been getting too much offense out of their center fielders. As of right now, Anthony Gose and Tyler Collins have combined to produce an insufficient .152/.211/.212 slash line from that position.

While Maybin may not be a star, it would truly benefit the Tigers if he could get healthy and make his way back to the team. If he can just hit the way he did for the Braves a season ago, it would be a major upgrade over what they have been getting out of the center field position thus far.

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