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.