Marlon Byrd Designated For Assignment By Red Sox

It was just a few months ago that Marlon Byrd was one of the more compelling best-shape stories of the spring. Some guys show up to camp in the best shape of their lives, but just saying that wouldn't have done Byrd's efforts justice. Then Byrd opened the season by batting 3-for-43 for the Cubs, and getting sent to the Red Sox.

With the Red Sox, Byrd batted .270. On its own, that's not a bad batting average. But with it came two walks and one home run, and now on Friday, Byrd has been dumped:

Marlon Byrd to be DFA'd to make room for Dice-K on roster.

— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) June 9, 2012

Daisuke Matsuzaka is coming back, and Byrd simply hasn't been good enough to justify a roster spot. Darnell McDonald hasn't been very good, but he's been better than Byrd, and as Byrd is now 34 years old and nearly 35, one wonders if he has all that more to give to another team. His OPS has fallen four years in a row, and this year it's below .500.

Byrd could go elsewhere, or he could conceivably accept an assignment to triple-A. But his probably isn't a name worth following much anymore.

Marlon Byrd Traded To Red Sox; Michael Bowden Goes To Cubs

After the Jacoby Ellsbury injury, the Red Sox were in a pretty bad way when it came to their outfield alignment. They were mixing and matching Darnell McDonald, Cody Ross, Jason Repko, and Ryan Sweeney. The Cubs had an extra outfielder in Marlon Byrd, which led to this from WEEI:

The Red Sox acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Cubs in exchange for right-hander Michael Bowden and a player to be named, with Chicago taking on nearly all of Byrd’s salary, according to an industry source.

Byrd has been productive in his two seasons with the Cubs, though he started the 2012 season just 3-for-43. I'm sure the calm, rational sports-talk radio in Boston won't focus on that.

Michael Bowden is a 25-year-old right-hander who has appeared in 39 games in the majors, all but two in relief. He was a starting pitcher until last year, when he was converted to relief in Pawtucket. He has a career rate of eight strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Marlon Byrd Trade Rumors: Cubs OF Could Be With Red Sox By Sunday, According To Report

The Boston Red Sox are in need of some serious reinforcements, in short order. Their awful start to the 2012 season has been compounded by injuries to outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Repko. The team has no major league-ready options at Triple A Pawtucket and Carl Crawford is still rehabbing from an injury stemming from last season. They need outfield help in a hurry and they may be getting it sooner than you might think.

On Saturday, it was reported that the Sox were nearing a deal with the Chicago Cubs that would bring Marlon Byrd to Boston. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that Byrd could be in Boston as soon as Sunday.

Byrd has also had a slow start to the 2012 season but would be a definite asset to the Red Sox.

For all news and information regarding the Boston Red Sox, please visit Over the Monster. For updates and perspective on the Chicago Cubs, head on over to Bleed Cubbie Blue.

Report: Red Sox Close To Acquiring Marlon Byrd