OFFICIAL: Marlins trade Cameron Maybin for international pool money, Bryson Brigman

Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin is headed to the Mariners. Shortly after Tuesday’s deadline, the team announced that it sent him west in exchange for shortstop prospect Bryson Brigman and an unspecified amount of international bonus pool money.

This marks the third trade between these teams over the past year-plus. The Marlins fleeced the M’s in the David Phelps trade prior to the 2017 trade deadline (prospect package included Pablo López). In November, the Fish unloaded Dee Gordon’s contract for a trio of young players.

Seattle had hoped for Gordon to convert from second base to center field for this season, but the early results were ugly (-10 Defensive Runs Saved in 341 innings). Also, Robinson Canó’s PED suspension created an opportunity for him in the infield.

The Mariners have the only MLB postseason drought longer than Miami’s. Currently, they hold a slim lead over the A’s for the second wild card spot in the American League (63-43).

Maybin initially struggled at the plate in 2018, as the Marlins insisted on getting Lewis Brinson consistent starts in center field and limited his playing time. But since Brinson has been sidelined with a hip injury (beginning July 4), the 31-year-old has caught fire: .345/.478/.473, 2 HR, 13 BB, 11 K in 69 PA. That generated interest in him from several teams, and that’s the version of Maybin the Mariners feel merits moving another yet-to-be-announced prospect from their already-thin farm system.

Photo courtesy of @CameronMaybin/Twitter

Maybin was well-respected in the Marlins clubhouse and one of the masterminds behind their JDF16 MVP of the Game chain. Like Brad Ziegler, he’ll be missed.

Maybin is owed more than $1 million from his original $3.25 million guarantee. It would seem his new team will take full responsibility.

Whatever the Fish get added to their international bonus pool will be redirected toward making the best possible offer to free agent Víctor Víctor Mesa. Major League Baseball still hasn’t cleared the talented outfielder to sign.

Brigman, 23, is in the midst of his best professional season. He batted .304/.373/.391 in 98 games for High-A Modesto.

Here’s what MLB Pipeline had to say about Brigman in their midseason update of each organization’s top prospects list. He ranked 19th among Mariners farmhands, though will likely come in lower on the Marlins’ list:

“Brigman does a lot of things fairly well, though no single tool is plus. He has a solid approach, makes consistent contact from the right side of the plate and can steal some bases now and again. The quality of Brigman’s contact leaves something to be desired, though, leading some scouts to question whether he’ll ever be strong enough to consistently drive the baseball. He’s a capable defender at shortstop, though most believe he’ll need to move over to second base, where his below-average arm strength is a better fit.”