Tigers acquire Cameron Maybin in trade with Braves Outfielder, a perfect platoon partner, acquired from Atlanta for left-handed pitchers Ian Krol and Gabe Speier

Anthony Fenech , George Sipple | Detroit Free Press

Cameron Maybin has come full circle.

In the latest of Al Avila’s first moves as Detroit Tigers general manager, the team acquired its former first-round pick from the Atlanta Braves today for left-handed reliever Ian Krol and lefty prospect Gabe Speier.

“We needed an outfielder,” Avila said. “And he’s an outfielder that can play centerfield as well as leftfield. He’s played mostly center and we wanted a guy that can play center in the event that we needed him to play center, so we have that flexibility."

In 2015, Maybin hit .267 with 10 home runs, 59 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in the best of his nine major league seasons.

“Overall, he brings athleticism and defense,” Avila said. “He had a good year with the bat.”

Maybin, the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft, was one of two key pieces in December 2007 trade with the Florida Marlins that netted first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Then-starting pitcher and current New York Yankees closer Andrew Miller was the other.

Avila said in the statement that, “Brad Ausmus and the coaching staff will determine Cameron’s role during spring training.”

That role at present looks like a perfect platoon partner to both Anthony Gose in centerfield and Tyler Collins in leftfield, which will seemingly eliminate the return of veteran outfielder Rajai Davis in free agency.

The team had an offer extended to Davis, Avila said, and another free agent outfielder, “But at the end of the day we felt this was the best option for us.”

“We don’t have to make a decision on playing time or who plays where today,” manager Brad Ausmus wrote in a text to the Free Press. “I will talk to both Cam and Anthony about CF and LF, etc. The important thing is that we have two guys who can cover the grass from right center to the left field line in Comerica.

“I was with Cam when he played in San Diego. So, we do know each other.”

Maybin, 28, is due $8 million in 2016, but $2.5 million of that will be picked up by the Braves, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The Tigers hold a $9 million option for 2017, which includes a $1 million buyout.

Krol, 24, is a hard-throwing lefty reliever who couldn’t consistently command his pitches in two seasons with the Tigers. He posted a 5.34 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in 78 games.

“Krol is still young, and has a lightening bolt for a left arm,” Ausmus wrote in a text. “At some point he’s going to gain the experience or confidence to be a successful big league pitcher.”

Speier, 20, whom the team acquired in last off-season’s trade with the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, posted a 3.86 ERA in 33 games with Class-A West Michigan this past season.

With Cespedes long gone – he was traded to the New York Mets at the trade deadline and is now a free agent – the last remaining piece of that trade is right-handed reliever Alex Wilson.

Maybin has not lived up to the potential placed on him as a prospect, bouncing from the Marlins to the Padres to the Braves, where he put together a solid season in 2015, displaying the same traits that he was treasured for in his early-20’s.

He hit for some power, ran the bases and covered a bunch of ground in the outfield.

“He’s still young enough where there’s still upside,” Avila said. “Last year, he showed some progress and so he had a solid year. Hopefully, he’ll build on that and keep going.”

With the trade, the Tigers have solidified two spots on their 2016 roster for $11.5 million. With Maybin, they get an outfielder, at worst a bench player and at best an everyday player.

Maybin is a career .251 hitter, hitting .255 against righties and .241 against lefties.

The Tigers’ perfect platoon partner with Gose or Collins would hit left-handers well.

“At this point, we haven’t decided anything yet,” Avila said when asked where Maybin would play in 2016. “We’re going to wait until spring training and wait to see how things play out there.”

It was their second trade in three days to address a need. On Wednesday, Avila made his first trade as general manager, acquiring closer Francisco Rodriguez from the Brewers for prospect Javier Betancourt.

The recent moves eliminate two of their biggest needs on paper in a cost-effective way – an outfielder and closer – and point towards a spending spree on their biggest need of starting pitching for the remainder of the winter.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

Contact George Sipple: gsipple@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple.

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