The right deal? Maybin, Maybin not

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In the wake of the blockbuster that sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for five prospects and a backup catcher, some executives from other teams complained the Marlins wanted more from them than what they got from Detroit.

From the Angels, they wanted Ervin Santana, Nick Adenhart, Howie Kendrick and Jeff Mathis. From the Dodgers, they supposedly wanted either Matt Kemp or James Loney plus Clayton Kershaw plus two others.

It's hard to question the Marlins when it comes to scouting for other teams' prospects (that's their specialty). Everyone acknowledges that outfielder Cameron Maybin and pitcher Andrew Miller, the top two players heading to Florida, have a chance to be stars. One competing executive even opined that he expects Maybin to be a superstar along the lines of Cabrera, and that five years from now the winter meetings scenario will be repeated where Florida needs to unload Maybin because he becomes too expensive.

But another National League scout had a more sober assessment, saying, "Maybin can run. And he can throw. He's got a lot going for him. But I'm not sure he's ever going to hit enough. He has an awful time with anything that bends .... [And] Miller's got a funky arm action and can't throw enough strikes."

Around the Majors

• The Tigers were right to ignore baseball's ridiculously arbitrary slotting system, whereby teams use a player's draft position as the guideline for what his signing bonus should be. By ignoring it, Detroit was able to sign the better prospects and put them in a position to make this trade. The Yankees also have wisely ignored MLB's bonus recommendations. And now the Mets' Minaya told Baseball America and Newsday they may have to rethink their resolve to stick to the system. Being what Minaya called "good citizens," has cost them big time.

• The Yankees and Giants could possibly make a deal involving Hideki Matsui, one that involves either pitchers Noah Lowry or Jonathan Sanchez. But would anyone really expect Matsui to waive his no-trade clause to leave the team of his dreams?

• In the proposed deal for Oakland's Danny Haren, according to the East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune, Arizona would send to the A's prospects Carlos Gonzalez, Emilio Bonifacio and Brett Anderson. If that's the case, I have to assume Oakland's playing for the future (disclaimer: Of course I thought that when they traded Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson, and they proved me wrong).

• Upon hearing that Eric Gagne got a guaranteed $10 million (plus incentives), my reaction was: I wonder how much he could have gotten if he wasn't the worst pitcher in the majors over the last three months of the 2007 season.

• No inside info, and the Padres have reportedly offered at least $30 million for three years, but I am still betting on Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome going to the Cubs.

• One scout says he loves 20-year-old lefty Glenn Gibson (a 2006 draftee, no less), whom Tampa got from Washington for troubled outfielder Elijah Dukes. The scout likens Gibson (son of former big leaguer Paul), to a "young Tom Glavine."

• The Orioles would like to trade Melvin Mora and Ramon Hernandez in addition to Miguel Tejada.

• The Astros may be living down to my lowly expectations for them, first trading Brad Lidge for very little, then following that by signing Kaz Matsui for way too much.

• Let me get this straight: Texas and San Diego (and probably others) would both take Milton Bradley (Bradley eventually agreed to a $5 million contract with the Rangers) but not Barry Bonds?

• I am counting on the Mitchell Report to be the Document of the Year.