Todd Jones and Cameron Maybin were Tigers teammates in 2007 at opposite ends of their careers -- Jones as a 39-year-old closer, Maybin as a 20-year-old rookie outfielder. They’re about to become teammates again, this time in the television studio and broadcast booth, as Bally Sports Detroit juggles its Tigers broadcast team.
The network announced Thursday that Maybin and Jones will join its team as studio analysts for pregame and postgame shows, as well as some games. Former Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe steps up to become the network’s primary game analyst alongside play-by-play broadcaster Matt Shepard, with Dan Petry becoming the primary studio analyst. Former Tigers great and current Tigers special assistant Kirk Gibson will also work games as an analyst.
“Tigers baseball is always a winner,” said Bally Sports Detroit senior vice president and general manager Greg Hammaren in a statement. “All of us at Bally Sports Detroit are energized about this upcoming season and watching all the excitement unfold. Our crew behind the scenes and our engaging talent on camera are the best in the business. Starting with Spring Training, we are committed to bringing Tigers fans the absolute best coverage all season long.”
Hall of Famer Jack Morris will not be a part of this year’s broadcast team. He and the network mutually agreed to part ways, according to a source, after he spent the last five seasons on Tigers telecasts.
The new gig unofficially marks the fourth Tigers stint for Maybin, the team’s first-round Draft pick in 2005. He played 24 games for Detroit in '07, hitting his first Major League home run off Roger Clemens at Yankee Stadium that August, went to the Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera trade after that season, returned to the Tigers via trade after the '15 season and signed with Detroit as a free agent in '20. He retired as a player following the '21 season.
Maybin jumped from the outfield into the television booth last year as part of the Yankees' and Cubs' broadcast teams with YES Network and Marquee Sports, respectively. He also worked in studio for MLB Network.
Jones also has media experience to go with his franchise-record 235 saves as a Tiger. In addition to 16 years in Major League bullpens, including eight seasons with Detroit, Jones was a longtime contributor to The Sporting News as a columnist during his playing career. His wry sense of humor helped him in both pursuits.
“I was average at both,” he joked in a text message.
Following retirement, Jones worked with the Tigers as a pitching instructor.
Bally Sports Detroit is scheduled to televise seven Spring Training games beginning Sunday, March 5. The network has not announced its regular-season schedule.