Padres extend Cameron Maybin

Looking forward to lots of this over the next 6 years.  In that uni would be a nice touch too.

Today the San Diego Padres announced signing OF Cameron Maybin to a contract extension.  From the Padres media release:

"Cameron has certainly emerged as a core player,” said Byrnes. “During his time with the Padres, he has impressed us with his play and with his character. He has shown us that he is committed to the Padres, and we are happy to secure his rights through 2017."

Maybin, 24, enjoyed a breakout year in his first season with the Padres, establishing new career highs in nearly every offensive category, including games, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and stolen bases, en route to being unanimously chosen as the Padres 2011 MVP by the San Diego Chapter of the BBWAA. He started 132 games in center field and led the team in runs, triples, stolen bases and multi-hit games.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed in the club announcement, other than to say the contract runs through 2016 and includes a mutual option for 2017.

Thoughts:  Maybin is seen as a core Padre going forward, and with good reason.  He plays a premium defensive position well in a ballpark that requires athletic outfielders to cover it's spacious facilities.  Last season Maybin's defense saved 11 runs (Dewan plus/minus) and placed him third amongst all MLB CF in that category.  Not burdened by fear of management holding a quick hook if he didn't produce, he enjoyed his finest season at the plate, and became the 8th Padre to ever steal 40 bases in a season.

The deal buys out all of Maybin's arbitration years, plus the first (and probably second) year he'd be eligible for free agency.  Interestingly he's currently the lone player under contract for 2014, much less 2016.  That piece of trivia notwithstanding this is an excellent move by the Padres.  Now we an put whoever we want in LF and RF because Maybin can cover center from gap to gap.

Update:  The SDUT is reporting the deal as 5 years/$25 million, with the option year being worth $7 million if he returns in 2017.  Maybin was worth 4.7 WAR (Fangraphs) in 2011 which equated to ~$21.1 million. If he plays at that level during this contract, Padres got him at a bargain price.