The Cubs have acquired outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Tigers, tweets ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The Cubs will send infielder Zack Short to the Tigers in return, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News.
Maybin, 33, has been about league average in his brief 45 plate appearances for the Tigers this year after signing as a free agent in February. He missed time early in the month with a quad strain. The Tigers’ 10th overall pick way back in 2005, Maybin has created value in a utility role in recent years. He posted a 127 wRC+ for the Yankees in 2019, and is able to handle all three outfield positions. A 14-year veteran, Maybin is owed about $225K on the season.
Maybin is the Cubs’ second bench bat addition in two days, as they picked up Jose Martinez from the Rays yesterday. The Cubs’ depth was a bit compromised with Steven Souza Jr. on the IL for a hamstring strain and Kris Bryant out with a sprained finger and sore wrist. The first-place Cubs have been otherwise focused on the bullpen today, adding lefties Andrew Chafin and Josh Osich in trades.
Short, 25, reached Triple-A in 2019 as a middle infielder. Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked Short 28th among Cubs prospects, citing “a consistent blend of strong defensive skills and sneaky impact at the plate.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dumpster divin’ Theo!
He posted a 127 OPS+ just last season. This is a legit pickup. Hating just to hate is pointless, no?
I think Chi Sox Fan is pointless, no?
Ageed!
Agreed … I’m still better at English than him!
Poor thirsty closet Cub fan. The White Sox did NOTHING even though they have a RARE chance at a postseason run. Of course he’s gonna continue to obsess over anything Cub related. It would be comical if it weren’t so transparent and pathetic.
Always and forever second fiddle in Chicago. The empty stands in whatever the Sox call the Cell gives the team the best home field advantage of any MLB team. After all the Cell looks like that when there’s no pandemic.
He posted an 86 OPS+ the previous 2 years and has a 94 OPS+ this year. You found an outlier. The only thing “legit” about it is the fact that it moves the absolutely terrible Almora to the bench, where he belongs.
So what you’re saying is, he’s an upgrade over a current bench option, which would make it a legit pickup? Almora is already a bench player, but nevermind that.
Priggs—-perhaps to the DFA list for Almora—where he really belongs. An incredibly poor and stupid ball player. If not for Joe Maddon hand selecting spots for him to try to succeed he would have been out of baseball a long time ago or at least in the minors.
Example–the other night in a tie game, after a leadoff double—Almora comes up—and what does he do—he attempts to bunt for hit (pat hughes and ron coomer–radio guys comment on it right away)—of course, instead of bunting for a sacrifice—he fouls it off, gets in a hole and strikes out. This has been a consistent pattern with Almora… He’s just a dumb ball player—and when the talent ends up being fringe—you can’t be dumb also.
With the addition of Maybin/Martinez—–Almora and Souza have to a couple of the options for DFA.
A broom with a glove taped to it would be an upgrade over their current bench option. No, getting a slightly better play than the laughably bad one you already have isn’t a legit pickup.
With all due respect, you just aren’t making any sense. An upgrade to a spot of need, bench outfielder, is a legit pickup. You’re admitting that it’s an upgrade, but then saying it isn’t a legit pickup. Just doesn’t add up.
Hahaha, what happened to the White Sox? No moves from Hahn in spite of being in a position to make the postseason for the first time in a decade? Nahhh, I don’t blame you, keep obsessing over ANYTHING Cubs, if I were a Northwest Indiana White Sox fan, I’d do the same.
Adding a bunch of bum relievers and an old OF’er wouldn’t move the needle for the Sox. But good luck with these acquisitions.
Hey, you never know. Role players sometimes do amazing things in the playoffs.
Since when does improving your depth not move the needle? Even replacing the worst player on your team with someone better is a positive move. Some people hate just to hate. Lets talk baseball without the lens of bias
Cody Ross and Connie Gillespie for the giants in separate years. Marco Scutro as well.
With all of these inconsequential Cubbie moves… it sure says a lot about the rotten team that Theo and company put on the field to start this season!!!
With all of the non White Sox moves it shows a lot about what Rick and company thinks of their postseason chances!!!
Yes! It’s a lock!
The best part of your statement chisox about the rotten team is that the Cubs have set the bar that first place isn’t quite good enough anymore. It’s all about expectations. Had the conversation the other day we would kill for a record of 19-14 over ANY stretch of the season would be great. Now .575 ball is a failure. Amazing how things have changed.
The best thing about this year is that we don’t have to wait—-it’s been drilled in our head since February that the Reds and White Sox are playing in the World Series. Let’s just get to it.
Yeah, being a first place team really must be a bummer for the Cubs. What a rotten team.
I hope the White Sox do well. I’m a little sceptical about that rotation in the postseason though. It really seems like Rick just wants to see what the kids will do but thinks they need another year of seasoning like the 2015 cubs. IMO a bad move when you have a year like this where anything can happen (even more than usual). A veteran like Lynn or Clevinger would have meant a lot to a team like this
It’s not anything civic to say “I don’t think Cameron Maybin will help my ream in 2020”.
He’s meh.
I prefer the guy they traded
Please show all the nice people on this Ernie Banks doll where the mean Mr. Theo touched you, ChiSox.
You’re right. Sometimes they do. If getting bad players that can hopefully get lucky in the playoffs moves the needle for you, then congrats. I’m happy you had a good day.
“Since when does improving your depth not move the needle?”
Since forever when the depth players are bad. The chances of any of these guys making major contributions in the playoffs in anything but a blowout are slim at best. Going from a 5.7% chance to win the World Series to a 5.75% chance while hoping one of these mediocre players gets lucky at the right time isn’t moving the needle. It has absolutely nothing to do with hate. It is what it is.
Lowly Cubbies wouldn’t be in first place in the tough Sox division!! Only 3rd!!!
Haha!
They’d be 10 games ahead in the sox division.
You know after getting a bit excited about all of the White Sox moves this off season I was wondering what’s wrong with me as a Cubs fan?
This post reminds me it’s because i’ve been in TX for over a decade and forgot how idiotic the south side fans are (trust me I know having grown up a Cubs fan on the South Side).
Anyway it’s a bit sad on the realities of Almora. Seems like he tinkered his swing last year to try to hit more long balls (he’d do go to hit the weights) and then lost his confidence after the foul ball incident and tinkered his swing again and never recovered either. It’s mind boggling why they didn’t invest an extended stay in Iowa last year which we saw what that did for Happ.
If Almora is gone will never forget his run for the batting title in 2018, oh yeah and the tag was pretty epic too! 🙂
The White Sox have less urgency than the Cubs to make a splash at the trade deadline during this abbreviated season. The White Sox arrow is pointing up for the next 5-10 years while the Cubs window to contend for another championship might be closing soon. Rick Hahn went on record stating that the White Sox would not compromise their long term success by trading any top young assets for rentals or others veterans with less team control. Clearly the price tag for available SP’s with limited team control like Mike Clevinger and Lance Lynn was too steep for his liking which is just fine with most White Sox fans.
That being said, the White Sox did make a couple of minor additions leading up to the trade deadline, similar to what the Cubs did. They added speedy OF Jarrod Dyson to contribute late inning defense and elite base running skills off the bench. They also brought back former Gold Glove 2B Yolmer Sanchez to provide infield depth. These moves were both sensible in light of the recent season ending injury to versatile INF/OF Leury Garcia along with the leg problems that 3B Yoan Moncada has struggled with since opening day.
That’s fine in theory but the AL looks pretty winnable and both Lynn and Clevinger are controlled past this year. I wouldn’t trade Kopech or anyone currently on the team. Padres did it without giving up any of their top prospects.
Another Sox fan moron check in.
Get a life, ChiSox.
bronyaur—this IS his life……leave him alone—if there was no Cubs news, he’d be totally unemployed. It’s nice that he has something to contribute to society.
Hey, ChiSox….. from 2007-present:
Cubs: .514 w%
Sox: .468 w%
I think we know which team sucks and which one wins.
2020 Odds to win the World Series:
Cubs: 5.7%
Sox: 5.9%
Congrats on winning more games 13 years ago.
White Sox have less than 1% of winning anything this year. They’ll be lucky to not be one and done if they make the playoffs
Chi sox… Hovering over your keyboard, ready to pounce, in true ankle biter style.
Was hoping Yankees got Maybin and Romine back.
Is this a Maybin or did it happen for real.
This was the trade people have been waiting for
Why?
He’s only 33? Why does it feel like he’s 38?
Was actually thinking the same thing. He’s been around forever
Don’t hate this.. Could take away the ABs from Almora, and we also realized we don’t have a backup RF when Heyward is out.
Almora’s likely going to be sent down or DFA’d to make room. I don’t see any other position player in a position to be sent down unless they send Hernan Perez back down.
Happ played right field just fine. This is a clear message that Almora is done Maybe he’s one of the PTBNL in one of those deals. We can only hope as he’s completely useless with the bat.
Happ was a disaster in RF. Probably cost them a game.
Thank you from a blue jays fan
A DH that mashes LHP, a couple of lefty relievers and now Maybin. Theo did pretty damn good without giving up any real prospects. Glad to see the Cards and Brewers did nothing.
Albert is not long for this team…
He seems like a likeable guy, but he is not a major leaguer.
What did the Tigers get back? A Ptbnl would be my guess. Seems like there would be little delay in saying that, tho.
Zach Short
And yet another 30+ yr old acquired by Theo.Does Theo feel players under 30yo are to inexperienced for the stretch run if there is one by the Cubs.
No, the asking price for 30+ year old players will be a lot less than the asking for sub 30 year olds. The odds the cubs gave up anything of note in all 3 of today’s trades are slim. Makes the team better, if only marginally, without costing any real farm talent.
My dude gets passed around like a joint at a frat party. Good luck Cam.
Theo wasn’t joking when he said the Cubs would be players at the trade deadline but not when it came to major acquisitions.
Old Tiger fan here. Cameron Maybin preforms pretty well on above average teams. He can produce when he’s surrounded with better hitters. IMHO, I think he’s better suited to an A.L. team, but with universal DH in N.L. (i.e. one more hitter around him) this year he might be worth it.
My guess? The Tigers will get a PTBNL.
I wish they got a PTBNL. It would be an upgrade over the guy they actually got, Zack Short. The guy doesn’t hit and K’s way too much. Sounds like he’s a glove-first guy, but might be a Mendoza-line candidate in MLB (if he makes it that far). Maybe Al Avila got him thrown in the deal after Theo offered a bag of used baseballs.
Tigers have 5-6 guys in the minors better than Zack Short who play the middle infield. Heck, the kid they just drafted in the 3rd round, Trei Cruz, out of Rice and son and grandson of former MLB players Jose Cruz, Jr. and Jose Cruz, Sr. is better than Zack Short.
Tigers got something. Maybin was not the difference maker for this year’s team anyway as long as Jacoby Jones stays healthy.
WS ring with Stros in 17, a proven winner.
With some ‘extra’ help….
Anybody else out there think that there is a possibility that they just MIGHT try to move Happ to second base (Maybin in center) and get rid of that black hole??? It’s certainly a risk defensively—but with all respect—Hoerner is still a year or two away from being a real major leaguer and Kipnis is not very good offensively or defensively.
The Cubs sure have their share of weaknesses, but personally I think second base is pretty close to the top of the list and it could be worth the gamble.
No! Nobody!
I think Kipnis is decent as long as he doesn’t see many lefties. And Bote should get more time there when Bryant comes back.
I think the utility infielder experience is good for Hoerner. Maybe he’ll need just a quick tuneup in AAA if they play it next year.
Not if you want the Cubs to win.
Can’t believe we didn’t trade Bryant
Bote is playing way better now than him anyway
Bryant isn’t gonna be traded unless they get at least 3 players back. No one wants to give up at least 2 top prospects for him. Braves make the most sense. But they won’t part with Fried and Ian Anderson to start a conversation.
Bryant is the most over rated third baseman in history. Always an injury, always an excuse. If you are a true Cubs fan you will want him gone.
Cam Maybin is under appreciated. Dude is a spark plug. Cubs fans will like him and respect his hustle. Trust me!
Not a bad pickup for the Tabbies. Short appears to be solid defensively, and can take a walk. He looks like a utility player will be his ceiling, but I would rather be giving Harold or Travis ABs than Maybin, anyway.
Tigers come up SHORT in Maybin trade.
In a normal year, yes. He’s a true rental for just like 28 games? Is not under contract beyond 2020, so…..
Why not cash him in for a lottery ticket and hope you can cash that in later? Plus, I’m beginning to think the Tigers lure some players with the promise of trading them to a (guaranteed) contender at the trade deadline. Maybin is my case in point. I’ll bet he’s back in Detroit next year and we’re having this same talk on July 31, 2021. Only the team that trades for him is the question mark…..
Theo gave up way too nuch for a 33 year old journeyman and a rental. Loss for the cubs no matter what maybin does
You’ll love him. Maybe love is a strong word, but measure wins and losses when he’s in the lineup. Surprise!
Maybin is mashin’
As expected Albert (no bat) Almora demoted to minor league campus (He has two options remaining) Took long enough if you ask me