Padres and Cameron Maybin Agree to Extension

It’s been one of the club’s top priorities all winter long. In fact, it’s been a top priority almost from the conclusion of the 2011 season on. And now it’s done. The Padres have agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract with Maybin. They also included an option for a sixth year worth between $7-8 million according to Scott Miller of CBS Sports.

Maybin was seeking a no-trade clause, but the Padres have implemented a policy against such clauses, very similar to the Rays who have gone from rebuilding to constant competitor. Maybin and the Padres have had on again, off again negotiations since October. At one point, Maybin switched representation and cut off negotiations while he and his new agent got acclimated.

Maybin is just 24 years old, and the new contract essentially buys out his arbitration-eligible seasons and at least one year of free agency. Maybin has shown with the Padres he has the capability to win multiple gold gloves, the speed to steal 40 plus bases per season, and the natural talent to hit for average and get on base.

The contract extension is mutually beneficial to both sides. Maybin is now a multi-millionaire with at least $25 million gauranteed, and the Padres have possibly saved themselves millions if Maybin goes on to have the succes that most project for him. This is exactly the type of move the Padres had to make, and need to continue to make in the future. This is the type of move that helps the club move toward a level of consistent compentitiveness.

The team has yet to play a single game and Josh Byrnes is already making a splash. He traded away the team’s ace for a king’s ransom, traded away the team’s stud first base prospect, acquired the power-hitting Carlos Quentin, added to the already stocked farm system, replaced an All-Star closer with another All-Star closer, and avoided arbitration with every single arbitration eligible player this offseason. Now, he has reach an agreement with Maybin and his agent in perhaps the biggest contract extension in recent memory. It’s clear the Padres are heading in a new direction with Byrnes. They seem to be heading in a similar direction that led the Rays to an American League Championship.

Cameron Maybin is just the first of a few player Byrnes had on his radar for contract extensions. With his contract in place, the team can now focus on players like Chase Headley, Nick Hundley, and Carlos Quentin. Headley and Hundley may still be trade bait, and it will be interesting to see how Byrnes handles them. Quentin is a wild card, and his future is largely dependent on how he performs in Petco. Maybin was the one sure player the team needed to extend, and now they have done it.