Marlon Byrd Reportedly Traded to Red Sox

According to MLBTradeRumors.com, Marlon Byrd–formerly of the Chicago Cubs–has been traded to the Red Sox. The report comes from Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com via twitter Saturday. The trade for Byrd is viewed as insurance for the Red Sox’ injury ravaged outfield that includes laid up superstar’s Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford.

The trade brings little in the way of offense but should be a solid upgrade on the defensive side of things. Byrd brings a paltry .070 BA, .149 OBP and just 2 RBI with him to Boston.

Some of you may remember the outfielder from last season’s Cubs-Red Sox series at Fenway Park. In that series Byrd was hit in the face with a pitch from–now Red Sox closer–Alfredo Aceves.

This trade should benefit the Red Sox in an outfield sorely lacking defense but as I said previously, Byrd brings virtually nothing to the table on offense. I’m not sure that the Sox–with their inconsistent offense–can afford to carry another non-producing outfielder which leads me to believe that this trade was made purely as insurance in the case of another outfielder sustaining some sort of injury.

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