Padres Acquire CF Cameron Maybin

AOL Fanhouse writer Tom Krasovic reported today via Twitter that the Padres dealt RP's Ryan Webb & Edward Mujica to the Florida Marlins for 23 year old center fielder Cameron Maybin. The deal is still pending a physical. Maybin, originally drafted in the 1st round (10th overall) of the 2005 draft by the Detroit Tigers, was acquired by the Marlins in the Miguel Cabera/Dontrelle Willis deal in 2007.

A few things to note on this deal.....

-The Padres dealt from a strength and didn't have to move any of their big 3 (Bell, Adams, Gregerson)..win

-The Padres save money. Mujica was arbitration eligible and was to make around $1 million this season...when your payroll is going to be roughly $40 million every dollar saved counts

-According to Jed Hoyer, CF and a leadoff hitter were 2 areas of need this off-season. They possibly killed 2 birds with one stone as Maybin has batted the majority of his major league at bats in the leadoff and 2 hole (313 AB's of 548 career AB's) .

-Maybin isn't eligible for arbitration til 2013..so not only is he cheap now but he's also under control for quite a few years.

-Maybin has huge upside but it hasn't quite translated yet. According to Dan Hayes scouts say it usually takes high school players roughly 2,500 AB's before they start to lock in

-With an OF of Ludwick in LF, Maybin in CF, Venable in RF the Padres appear set. Also Denorfia, Gwynn & Cunningham will be fighting it out for the 4th OF spot. That leads me to believe that an outfielder may be a part of another deal down the line now. With the three 4th OF candidates not having much value and with Jed openly saying Ludwick will be back next season, I have a feeling Venable might be parting soon. He's got value and unfortunately you need to give up something of value to get something of value back.

-Suprisingly Maybin has only logged 5 AB's in NL West ballparks (all in Colorado and 1-5)