UPDATE: Well, the Marlins may have the bullpen help they were looking for. According to Krasovic, the Marlins will acquire right-handers Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica from the Padres in exchange for Maybin.
Webb, who turns 25 in February, posted a 2.90 ERA and 44/19 K/BB ratio over 59 innings with the Padres this past season. Acquired from the A’s in the Scott Hairston trade last July, Webb was fifth among MLB relievers in 2010 with a groundball rate of 62.3 percent.
Mujica finally realized his potential after coming over from the Indians in the spring of 2009, posting a 3.80 ERA in 126 appearances over the past two seasons. The 26-year-old right-hander had a 3.62 ERA to go along with a stingy 72/6 K/BB ratio over 69 2/3 innings this past season. He is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter. Either pitcher could be a potential closer.
The Padres still managed to keep Luke Gregerson and Mike Adams, so while a trade involving Heath Bell now looks less likely, it isn’t completely out of the question.
4:00 PM: According to Tom Krasovic of AOL Fanhouse, the Marlins have traded Maybin to the Padres, pending a physical. No word yet on who the Marlins received in return.
3:28 PM: A source tells Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports that Maybin “will be traded” and that a deal between the Marlins and Padres is “getting close.”
Passan adds that the Marlins were talking to the Royals about Alex Gordon earlier, though they apparently found a better offer from the Padres. With the Marlins looking for relief help, any chance Heath Bell could be one of the names on the table? Multi-player deal involving Dan Uggla? All speculation, but that’s what makes the Hot Stove so fun and ridiculous, after all.
1:26 PM: Frisaro adds that the Marlins have also spoken with the Royals about Maybin.
1:08 PM: The Marlins are discussing a trade that would send Cameron Maybin to the Padres, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
Maybin was regarded as one of the top outfield prospects in the game when he was acquired from the Tigers as part of the Miguel Cabrera trade in December of 2007, but has failed to live up to the hype thus far, batting .257/.323/.391 with 12 homers, 43 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 557 plate appearances as a member of the Fish. He’ll go into spring training next season out of options.
Still, it’s not hard to see why the Padres would be interested. Despite his lack of polish at the plate, Maybin rates above average in center field according to UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) and doesn’t turn 24 until next April.
Andrew Miller, another big piece of the Cabrera trade, was traded to the Red Sox last night.