Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: This Site is NOT Called TomahawkTank!

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Oct 2, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Cameron Maybin (25) makes a diving catch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Braves continue to tank, deal Cameron Maybin to Tigers

DAVID SCHOENFIELD / ESPN SWEETSPOT BLOG

The trade: Atlanta Braves trade CF Cameron Maybin to the Detroit Tigers for LHP Ian Krol and LHP Gabe Speier.

More from Tomahawk Take

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Either way, this isn’t the kind of trade that is going to turn the Tigers into playoff contenders. Really, this deal and the deal to acquire Francisco Rodriguez are just patchwork kind of trades, Rodriguez replacing Joakim Soria, and Maybin an attempt fill a lineup position that Yoenis Cespedes filled for most of 2015.

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For the Braves, it doesn’t matter that they don’t really have a center fielder to replace Maybin, unless you consider the player formerly known as Michael Bourn. It’s all about dumping the $8 million he’s owed for 2016 (with a $9 million team option for 2017). The contract is fair, but considering Maybin’s injury history, the Braves figured they may as well get something for him. And if it makes the team worse? Who cares, the Braves apparently are aiming to have the worst record in baseball in 2016.

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For the Braves, the question is: Who’s next? The Shelby Miller trade rumors already have been out there. They’d love to get rid of Bourn and Nick Swisher, but good luck. The big question: Will they trade Freddie Freeman? I suspect not, but at this point, why not?

[ Ed. Note: this is a pretty brutal take by Schoedfield, and one I don’t happen to agree with. Yes – this trade is about clearing salary. Yes – this trade is about making some space available in the outfield. Yes – the Braves could have done better by moving Maybin last July… and if the Yankees had agreed on Gary Sanchez, then yes – that would have happened.

Sometimes you don’t get to pick your spots… often, in fact. Timing is everything with trades, and no, the timing isn’t perfect for moving Maybin (but that’s also why I am now advocating for a trade of Shelby Miller: barring a miracle trade for 3B and/or catcher, it makes a lot of sense to do so at this time).

Schoedfield completely ignores the other bit about moving Cameron Maybin: there is another center fielder. I for one am excited to see Mallex Smith. I think he’s going to be a good one, and I hope that Michael Bourn is still around for a while to help out both he and Hector Olivera as they figure out the outfield. Bourn may have lost a step at this point, but he demonstrated quite well last Summer that his instincts are still as sharp as ever and that his route-running is top-notch. That’s what Smith and Olivera will need to have some assistance with as they will both be around for a few years.

So will the Braves be worse without Maybin? If you’re comparing them with the ‘Spring Maybin’ of 2015, then maybe so. If it’s the ‘Summer Maybin’, then probably not. ]

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