Surprise! The Detroit Tigers are bringing back outfielder Cameron Maybin seven years after shipping their 2005 first-round draft pick off to warmer climates. The Tigers and Braves announced Friday afternoon that Detroit would acquire Maybin in exchange for left-handed pitchers Ian Krol and Gabe Speier. The Braves are throwing in some amount of cash to cover the $8 million Maybin is owed in 2016. (He is under contract for $9 million in 2017 with a $1 million buyout.)
Maybin made his major league debut in Detroit in 2007, but was then a jewel in the trade that brought Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers -- which seems to have worked out OK for Detroit.