Braves trade Maybin to Tigers

Only a few days after Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella insisted his team is "not tanking," the club parted ways with another member of last year's roster, sending center fielder Cameron Maybin and cash considerations to the Detroit Tigers for reliever Ian Krol and minor-league left-hander Gabe Speier on Friday.

Despite Coppolella's comments, the trade marks his second this month in which he's disposed a veteran to infuse his farm system. The newly appointed GM shipped two-time Gold Glove Award winner Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels last week for Erick Aybar and a pair of highly touted pitching prospects, Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis.

Maybin, a former top prospect, will reunite with the club that drafted him 10th overall in 2005 after reviving his career in Atlanta last season, wherein he hit .267/.327/.370 with 10 homers and 23 stolen bases in 141 games - his most since 2012. The 28-year-old spent the first two years of his professional career in the Tigers organization before getting traded to the Florida Marlins as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit in 2007.

"He's very talented, a five-tool guy when healthy," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told MLB.com's Jason Beck. "And through experience, we believe he is entering his prime."

Maybin, who was selected one pick ahead of Andrew McCutchen back in 2005, will likely assume the everyday job in center field for the Tigers, with Rajai Davis likely to sign elsewhere as a free agent this offseason.

By unloading Maybin, the Braves will save $8 million this season, while also adding Speier, a decently promising left-hander, to their increasingly strong stable of prospects. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 19th round of the 2013 draft, Speier spent the 2015 campaign in the Low-A Midwest League, fashioning a 2.86 ERA over 44 innings in his first professional season pitching exclusively out of the bullpen.

Krol, meanwhile, tentatively becomes the top left-handed option in Atlanta's bullpen despite his struggles with the Tigers in 2015. The 24-year-old fashioned a career-worst 5.79 ERA with a 1.71 WHIP in 33 relief appearances, posting an ugly 13.2 percent walk rate, while surrendering an .884 OPS to left-handed hitters.