Last season when David Ross was working as a broadcaster for ESPN, he was in New York to call a game and spent some time in the Yankees clubhouse, where he wound up chatting with Cameron Maybin.

It wasn’t a long conversation — about 20 minutes or so — but it left a lasting impression on Ross.

The two were brought together again this week when the Cubs traded for Maybin as a veteran presence in the outfield and off the bench.

Maybin is in the midst of his 14th MLB season and carries with him a breadth of experience in this game, but he’s still only 33 years old.

“There comes a point in every player’s career where the talent matches up with the mentality and what you’ve learned and how to go about your business,” Ross said, reflecting back on that conversation in New York. “I think Cam has really come into that kind of area of his career the last few years. I think he’s very comfortable in anything we’ve asked [based off] the conversations I’ve had with him.

“He just wants to help out and contribute in any way possible. Any scenario, he’s ready for. There will be multiple different ways to use him from my standpoint and it’s nice to be able to pull a guy that’s come off the bench before and had success and knows that role.”

That matches up exactly with what Maybin believes he can bring to this 2020 Cubs team over the final month of the regular season.

“At this point in my career, my objective is to try to win championships and help organizations win championships,” Maybin said. “Watching what these guys have been able to do the last few years to give themselves a chance to be in it every year, it says a lot about this organization and it says a lot about them wanting to bring me here.

“Guys around the league who have been around me know I’m about winning. I’m about good vibes, good energy and putting the team first. I think that’s a big part of why I’m here right now.”

He won a World Series ring with the 2017 Astros and made it to the ALCS with the Yankees last season. He was a former 1st-round pick (10th overall in 2005), one of the game’s top prospects as a minor leaguer and he’s been traded seven times (including the Craig Kimbrel deal that sent the closer from Atlanta to San Diego), which has helped him form a unique perspective in this game.

Maybin has also performed well throughout his career coming off his bench, with a .271/.362/.406 (.768 OPS) slash line.

He entered Tuesday night’s game in Pittsburgh as a pinch-runner and stole a base in his Cubs debut. Ross inserted him into the starting lineup Wednesday as Jason Heyward, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber received an opportunity to rest after a grueling day of travel and an 11-inning game.

Maybin responded with a double in his first start, but he ultimately figures to slot in as a role player on this team over the final three-and-a-half weeks of the 2020 season.

“I think a lot of [the success coming off the bench] just comes with maturity,” Maybin said. “The older you get, the more reps you get, you should become a little wiser and I think I have. I think I understand what I need to do as a hitter to have a quality at-bat.

“And just staying in tune with the game throughout the game. When I’m over there [on the bench], I’m not just sitting and having conversations — I’m into it. I’m timing pitches up as they’re pitching and throwing to other guys. Just mentally staying in it and staying ready is a part of it and I think that comes with maturity as well.”