By Alan Matthews
September 23, 2005

After more than four months of negotiations, which less than a month ago appeared to take a turn for worse, the Tigers and first-round pick Cameron Maybin agreed to terms Thursday.

The outfielder from T.C. Roberson High in Asheville, N.C., selected 10th overall in the 2005 draft, signed a contract and reported to Lakeland, Fla., just in time to attend instructional league. The Asheville Citizens-Times reported that Maybin received a $2.65 million bonus.

"We have agreed in principle," Tigers scouting director David Chadd said Friday morning. "Nothing is final . . . We're in the early stages of the physical and all of that."

Maybin's asking price at one point was as high as $4.9 million, but the two sides reportedly came close to agreeing on a contract that included a $3 million bonus in late August. That's when Tigers attorney John Westhoff, acting on behalf of Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, withdrew that offer, as well as a previous offer of $2.75.

"At the end it was mostly a matter of (Maybin's agent Brian Goldberg) picking up the phone and calling me and trying to get something worked out," Chadd said. "Once the (minor league) season was over, the timeline for both parties was instructional league. Players reported on Wednesday, and we worked diligently--both sides--to get this done in time for instructional league.

"We knew how badly Cameron wanted to get out and play."

Maybin, who grades as average or better in all five tools, was rated the No. 2 high school player in the 2005 draft class, behind Justin Upton (first overall, Diamondbacks). He batted .662-15-37 for Roberson High this spring in just 71 at-bats while stealing 32 bases. Baseball America ranked the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder as the No. 2 five-tool talent in the draft among preps, the No. 2 power hitter, the No. 5 baserunner and No. 4 defensive player.

His signing leaves four picks among the top 40 unsigned, including Upton, third baseman Alex Gordon (second overall, Royals) and righthanders Mike Pelfrey (ninth, Mets) and Luke Hochevar (40th, Dodgers).