4:56pm: The Mets gave up a dollar for Maybin, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Cubs weren’t going to prevent Maybin from getting another major league opportunity, which he should soon receive with the Mets.
4:07pm: The Mets have acquired outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Cubs, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets. The Cubs will receive cash in return, according to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News.
Maybin will provide some much-needed depth to a New York outfield that is dealing with some key injuries. The club placed Kevin Pillar on the IL on Monday as a result of multiple nasal fractures. The Mets are also without Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo, among other outfield-capable members of their lineup.
Maybin, now 34 years old, has seen action with nine major league teams since the Tigers chose him 10th overall in the 2005 draft. He has hit .256/.324/.376 with 72 home runs and 186 stolen bases in 4,218 plate appearances, but he put up a worse .247/.308/.387 line with one HR over 101 PA between the Cubs and Tigers a season ago. The Cubs re-signed Maybin to a minor league contract in the offseason, and he batted .103/.186/.205 in 43 trips to the plate with their Triple-A affiliate prior to the trade.
Chief Two Hands
Every time I see Maybin’s name I am surprised he is still in the league. I just simply forget about him.
whatever
@Chief: me too! lol
When it was a game.
I think its draft position. Seems like a lot of first rounders get a lot of chances.
ukpadre
I would agree if he’d only had a few cups of coffee in the league and was in his 20s still, but the guy has been around at the top level for well over a decade and had some very productive seasons (as recently as 2019), so it’s definitely more to do with a proven history of being able to offer something at the MLB level than any insane theory about where he was drafted 16 years ago.
Lloyd Emerson
What about bacon cheeseburgers?
Metfan1964
Puig would have been a better signing
JackStrawb
@Metfan1964 He would, on the field, but the Mets used up the cred that would let them sign the guy currently accused of sexual assault, with Jared Porter et al.
A'sfaninUK
His 12th team?!?!
ABCD
10th MLB team + SF (in ST) and Cleveland in the minors. 3 separate stints with Detroit.
sdbaseballguy
I only count 10? He’s had a few multiple trips around the league.
JackStrawb
It’s a rare quality. Good enough to stay in the league, but not good enough for any one team to want you very much.
YakAttack
Tigers drafted him over Cutch, Bruce, and Ellsbury….
king beas
Tigers also flipped him for a triple crown winner…
YakAttack
Andrew Miller was the headliner.
When it was a game.
Think it was both. Both at the time young first rounders high end players.
angt222
Yep. They were supposed to be the stars of the next Marlins contender. And Marlins threw in Dontrelle Willis too.
mlbnyyfan
Nice pick up was great with the Yankees. Disappointed the Yankees didn’t want him back after Hicks injury
Ducky Buckin Fent
Maybin had a nice run for us in ’19. Was an easy guy to root for.
I’m hoping this means the Yanks think Hicks will be back relatively soon.
causality
There’s no need for Joey Gallo when there’s CAMERON….
iamhector24
Trade for someone hitting .200 or give up a dollar…
Cosmo2
Who are they gonna trade for Gallo? Farm system is already in a desperate state.
Metfan1964
Mets don’t need another lefty bat- They should have signed Puig
Cosmo2
Please no to Puig. He’s not worth the money or the headache. He’s no better than Maybin.
Rangers29
So much for a Gallo trade…
causality
Joey Gallo cannot hold a candle to CAMERON MAYBIN….
Bill
Am I missing a joke here? Why would they take someone with a $6m contract when they hopefully will not need the person for more than a couple of weeks?
sirklearhead
With all the current issues it’s great to see our Front Office doing whatever they can. This is Steve’s Promise and he’s keeping his word
mlbnyyfan
Yankees need Gallo but do Rangers want Frazier or Judge?
Rocket32
mlbnyyfan You really want a third OF who either hits it 400+ feet or strikes out?
YankeesBleacherCreature
mlbnyyfan doesn’t know what he wants so pay him no mind.
Ducky Buckin Fent
He desperately wants to see the Yanks win.
He also has some very specific ideas about what *exactly* will get them a title.
I never doubt his passion.
I do question his specific roster goals at times, however.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@Ducky His “ideas” are wackier than MetsFan22’s for the Mets. I can’t tell who is the bigger homer.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Man, I think mestfan22 is much crazier.
mlbnyyfan just really feels a LH power bat & a “speedy lead off hitter” are the missing ingredients to get us over the hump. In theory, I don’t necessarily disagree with him.
That does not – however – mean I condone Judge for Gallo (gallo! @RAB), etc as something in the Yanks best interest. But he’s amazingly consistent with his takes.
Nice rally by there by the Yanks, uh?
iamhector24
Wait, he wants to trade Judge for Gallo?
JackStrawb
I hope this is sarcasm.
krockMETS
Not going to do much better than this when you lose 5 of the first 6 OFs on the depth chart to injury before Memorial Day.
mlbnyyfan
Mets could of tried for Delino Jr. I think he’s in the Indians AAA Team or Mets should try and get Kelenic back
Rangers29
He’s on the Rangers AAA team right now.
123redsox
Lol and here is how the call would have gone if the Mets called the mariners about Kelenic-
Mets (Zach Scott)- Jerry! How are you?!
Mariners- (jerry dipoto)- I am well Scott! What can I do for you?
Mets (scott)- I was wondering if we could talk about Kelenic
Mariners- (dipoto) *hangs up laughing *
Dustyslambchops23
Good one
When it was a game.
I want to laugh but still to soon.
DVail1979
Juan Lagares where are you?!?!?! (yes I believe I know he is an Angel lol)
Orel Saxhiser
As of today, Lagares is the new starting CF for the Angels.
JackStrawb
It’s testimony to how awful the position of CF is, currently, in MLB. Heck, Billy Hamilton still gets work.
I’m just surprised Keon Broxton hasn’t gotten a couple of innings somewhere.
Whiskey and leather balls
Oh yeah i bet all Mets fans are super excited by this (typed with heavy sarcasm)
Bill
Better than not having someone out there at all. And probably better than what they had at AAA.
Whiskey and leather balls
They have Syndergaard, Carrasco and Lugo coming off the 60 day DL in a couple weeks to find roster spots for already, plus saying maybin is better than any youngster at triple a is a stretch considering that he was hitting .100 in and didnt hit last year. A poorly applied bandaid on a slit throat but hey hope for the best
JackStrawb
It’s another lame move by Alderson, going with a post-post-post prime veteran in his mid-30s who has already played himself out of the majors. So much for our vaunted “depth.”
Baseballer2021
Watch: at some point, he’ll be back in Detroit before we all know it.
Grade_1_teacher
The Mets got Maybin for $1? I hope they got change back.
Dustyslambchops23
More like grade 1 student
Gwynning
Uncle Stevie promised to open the ol’ pocketbook…
DarkSide830
they could have just cut him…
CNichols
I think they were fine keeping him in AAA, the Mets just wanted him and as the article explains they didn’t want to block him from getting back to the majors.
Sounds like the Cubs didn’t really even necessarily want to get rid of him, they just didn’t care about losing him either so they let the Mets have him.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
The Cubs had just picked up Trace Thompson from Arizona to stash at AAA as well, and Thompson is probably a better defensive CF at this point.
By all reports, Maybin was very well regarded in the clubhouse. Those are the types of guys they add to the front office when their playing career is over. They did that with Darnell McDonald for example, had him at AAA for a year, gave him a September cup of coffee (and the higher salary and service time), and then he went to the front office as some sort of operations assistant or mental skills coach.
I won’t be surprised if Maybin is in the Cubs’ front office a year from today. So yeah, they aren’t going to stand in his way to make another $40k riding the Mets bench for two weeks as a fifth OF.
iamhector24
Riding the bench? He’s hitting 5th asap lol
JackStrawb
@Brick House It’s a lot more than $40k. Once you bring a player up, you pay him the MLB rate for the rest of the year. The year itself is divided into 12 portions. You pay the full amount of the portion during which you bring him up, then pay the full freight for every other portion thereafter.
This is why the Wilpon Mets routinely avoided bringing up even desperately needed players from AAA. They saved a mil or two a year, while costing the team wins.
Padresfan2313
Wait did they actually pay just $1? Or is this some kind of sarcasm that I’m too dumb to figure out?
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
This actually was talked about in the MLBTR chat this afternoon… cut and pasted:
What are “cash considerations?” How much money are we talking about?
Steve Adams
2:59 Varies. It can be anything from literally $1 (which has happened many times) to tens of thousands. Sometimes a team just trades a guy to a team who offers a better opportunity, but the trade needs to be something, so it’s a token $1, ha.
padam
I can see the two guys from ‘Trading Places’ making the deal, too.
Gwynning
I’d buy THAT for a dollar!
swinging wood
Came here to post that. Not disappointed to see you beat me!
iamhector24
Bo Jackson was sold off for a dollar when he went from KC to the White Sox. It happens frequently. They didnt want anything for him and it guarantees the mets get him instead of cutting him.
jorge78
Seriously? One whole dollar?
When it was a game.
Thats a blow to self esteem. Bag of balls is about 50-60 dollars.
hereallnight
Hopefully this’ll work out better than Rick Ankiel Month during the 2013 season.
bobtillman
Really classy of Sherman to report the price was a buck….and you wonder why players hate reporters.
rocky7
That’s Sherman for you….
YankeesBleacherCreature
I don’t see the problem here with Sherman and all his faults. It’s open league information and someone else would’ve reported it.
Orel Saxhiser
It’s accurate information. That’s what reporters are supposed to report.
iamhector24
That’s literally his job.
Phantom X
With all the money the Mets spent this offseason, that’s probably all they could afford.
rocky7
Great Team Guy, good outfielder, and can hit if given the chance….good pickup by the Mets in a pinch…..
chicagofan1978
Maybin was not making the mlb team so they basically gave him away out of respect for him.
bobtillman
Lindor gave Cohen the buck. Its his contribution this year.
iamhector24
Sick burn and as a Lindor and Mets fan I cant even be mad lol.
Rsox
The Cameron Maybin world tour continues. And for only a buck!…
PutPeteinthehall
Cubs picked up Maybin as a depth move. Decided with 25 percent of the games already played that he wasn’t going to be needed. Cubs really got the best of the free agent exchange of outfielders this winter signing Marisnick and watching the Mets then in turn sign Almora. Kinda figured Maybin was going to get called up and stick the rest of the year in Chicago. Should do well in a Mets uniform.
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
They had just picked up Trace Thompson a few days earlier from Arizona.
LLGiants64
At the risk of being body slammed on this site. This is a better move than Yasiel Puig? I know he is not popular, but I bet he would help the club more than Maybin.
Cosmo2
Maybin has been better more recently
Bill M
And Puig would cost at least $2
Brick House Coffee Tables Inc
Maybin can play as soon as he joins the Mets as Tier 1 personnel. Puig would have to deal with the COVID protocols first.
iamhector24
Puig absolutely is better but cant play Centerfield.
Cosmo2
I think you’re getting caught up in homer totals… full package value wise they’re basically even IF Puig hasn’t lost a step after missing a year (and being immersed in further controversy.)
PutPeteinthehall
Puig has legal issues and baseball might end up suspending him. I believe this coupled with other issues has made him unattractive as a free agent. Maybin on the major league roster costs the Mets minimum major league veteran wage. Doubt Puig would sign for that amount. His status will have to be cleared by MLB and he would have to be willing to accept a one year prove up kind of deal before getting signed again. If his agent is Boras good luck.
Orel Saxhiser
Puig has issues regarding the known legal one. In this day and age, MLB needs to steer clear of these types of people. Fans who watch Dodger games will know what I’m talking about.,
Cosmo2
Puig also hasn’t been a good hitter or fielder for years, let’s not forget that (plus, for some reason he expects to be paid more than the vet minimum which is absurd for a guy who barely belongs in the league if at all)
whynot 2
Vet minimum… what is that? Looks like you are talking about the wrong sport
LordD99
Town to town, up and down the dial…
TroyVan
Say what you want to about Maybin, but he was a sparkplug for the Tigers, at least during his second stint with the club. He may very well be at the very backend of his career, but I liked him in Detroit.
mlbnyyfan
I agree he was great for the Yankees. He can be a great under the radar move.
hiflew
A buck for Maybin? I think the Mets might still have some change due.
ABCD
Ricketts is like, “Come on, Jed, my losses are biblical.”
psychotic goldfish
If I had outbid the Mets and sent the Cubs $2, could I have had Cameron Maybin? Then I could have flipped him to the Mets for $3. That’s a 50% profit for me.
hiflew
Sure, if you wanted to pay his salary while you did it. If it took you a day to do it, the major league minimum salary is somewhere around $3,000 per day, so that $1 profit would dry up pretty quickly.
jim stem
I think we are at the 10th and 11th outfielders on the team depth chart. Yeesh.
We’ve had 4 hitters make their mlb debut in the past week, two making their first starts tonight in the outfield – Lee and Fargas.
Villar and Peraza were supposed to be If/OF depth pieces but have been starting infielders due to injuries. One month into the season and we’ve exhausted our 40 man roster limits. Incredible.
Peart of the game
Hard to go wrong for $1
iamhector24
You’ve clearly never had Taco Bell.
ctyank7
He did well a couple years ago with the Yankees. Maybe returning to New York and joining a team in contention will again bring out the best in him.
Ezpkns34
I’d rather be waived and claimed than traded for a dolalr
whynot 2
Don’t worry, you’ll never have to face that problem
brewsingblue82
While the jokes are funny, I think some of you definitely don’t understand the trade for a dollar hah. The Mets pay his salary, plus give the Cubs a dollar. He gets a better chance to play at the MLB level. There’s no blow to his self esteem. It’s literally a promotion for him. He gets MLB at bats instead of AAA at bats.
But also, as for why they’re going with Maybin instead of someone like Puig (who, as it’s been stated, would be a bad choice for many reasons) or making a bigger splash, is because they do still expect their bigger stars back. Once that happened, they’d then have to figure out what to do with a star player. Whereas with Maybin, he clearly goes to a bench role, AAA, or released/traded.
And for the younger players, it’s more or less service clock related/regular at bats and/or just not feeling it’s good for their development to see MLB pitching just yet.
Maybin is a good fit/low risk gamble to where he pays off or he doesn’t, but regardless, departs/finds a new role when the regulars are back. Maybe he hits like .150. Maybe with some luck he hits like .250. Either way, he’s just there to give some depth.
Mystery Team
The only question left: Is Brandon Nimmo gonna miss the remainder of the season for that horrific bruised index finger? I keep harping on Nimmo for good reason the dude hit the IL two weeks ago with a bruise on his finger/hand/index finger/who knows and shut down his rehab the other day because the pain was too immense to go on. He will not continue baseball activities until he is 100% healthy. LMFAO!! Guess they might as well transfer him to the 60 day IL cause he’ll never be 100% healthy. What player in the history of pro sport has really ever been 100% healthy? Not one. My man get out there and help your team win games it’s been two weeks for a bruise. Oh sorry it’s a deep bone bruise ooh noooo not a deep bone bruised index finger. He’ll never point the same again.
Bill M
Nice work, Bones.
Dez1021
Love Cam but he has been passed around more than a blunt at a 90s party.
Dan Hunter
Maybin is a squat aquisition.
Cohen has run out of money.
geg42
Maybin for a buck is close as you can get to a literal bargain bin.
Dutch Vander Linde
Maybe they could’ve offered $100 for Kris Bryant.
peteralt
U forgot to mention Cespedes. Why not??
whynot 2
Even I have limits!
Cohn Joppolella
“I’d buy that for a dollar!”