Padres traded two good relievers for CF Cam Maybin

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

The Padres acquired center fielder Cameron Maybin from the Florida Marlins in exchange for right-handed relief pitchers Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb.

Maybin, who turns 24 on April 4, figures to become the Padres' regular center fielder. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound outfielder last season had the highest range factor of any National League center fielder who played at least 70 games. Maybin had a 3.10 score per nine innings. By comparison, Tony Gwynn had a 2.12 score. Maybin appeared in a career-high 82 games for the Marlins in 2010, including 74 starts in center field. He hit .234 (68-for-291) with seven doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 28 RBI. He also scored 46 runs and stole nine bases.

However, the right-handed hitter also had 92 strikeouts against only 24 walks. He had a .302 on-base percentage.

He was the 10th overall pick of the Detroit Tigers out of high school in the 2005 draft, Maybin first reached the major leagues at the age 20. After his first major league season, Maybin was traded to the Marlins on Dec. 4, 2007, as the premier player among the six the Tigers gave up to acquire infielder Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

Maybin has played 168 games in the majors over the past four seasons, hitting .246 with 13 homers and 45 RBI in 548 at-bats.

The acquisition of Maybin, who is still two seasons away from being arbitration eligible, will likely end the Padres careers of several other outfielders. Ryan Ludwick, Gwynn, Chris Denorfia and Scott Hairston are all arbitration eligible and at least two of the four will likely be non-tendered by the Padres. The Padres have said they would like to retain Ludwick.

Gwynn was praised for his defensive play in center last season, but he batted only .204 in 289 at-bats with three homers, 20 RBI and a .304 on-base percentage.

To acquire Maybin, the Padres had to part with a relievers Mujica and Webb who worked in a combined 113 games last season. Although they lost two durable members of their bullpen, the Padres acquired a starting center fielder without touching the key members of the bullpen.

The key bullpen holdovers include All-Star closer Heath Bell, the set-up tandem of Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson plus Ernesto Frieri, Joe Thatcher and Adam Russell.

Hoyer, who leaves today for the GM meetings in Orlando, Fla., first contacted the Marlins about Maybin two weeks ago. "We started talking earlier this week," said Hoyer. "We wanted Maybin and the Marlins wanted bullpen help."