Levine: Cubs trying to trade for Marlon Byrd

[RynoRules]

Marquis and a bit of cash for Byrd.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Byrd's a much better option to platoon with Pie than Pagan. There won't be the temptation to take away at bats with the capability of "hitting" left handed, Byrd has better splits v. LHP(about average CF production against them for his career), and like his hitting, he's been either a bit above or a bit below average as a defensive CF.

[TruffleShuffle]

.363 BABIP in 2007, much better first half than second half, much better at home than on the road. on the other hand, he does hit lefties pretty well.

 

it's not complete dumpster-diving by jimbo, but it's pretty close.

[badnews]

That sounds like bad logic to me. To me that sounds like "We should have Charles Johnson as Soto's back-up so the organization won't be tempted to replace Soto." Or "We should get Denny Neagle as the 5th starter to give Gallagher and Marshall a legitimate shot at winning the battle."

 

The defensive numbers I'm looking at say he's awful in CF pretty much all of the time.

 

In 2006 Byrd hit lefties worse than righties, at a .627 OPS clip. In 2004, about the same as righties, .610 OPS. About the same in 2007 and 2003. His career OPS vs. lefties is .757 and against righties it's .717. That's a crappy lefty-masher. Angel Pagan could do that, play better defense, and we wouldn't have to trade for him. What's Byrd going to cost? Maestri or Atkins? I'd rather keep them than have this kind of "upgrade."

 

I just get sick of all the useless, non-upgrade bench tinkering, like when Hendry had to fool around and spend 3 weeks chasing Chris Woodward around this time. It's Chris Woodward, who gives a crap? Same thing for Byrd.

[UBlink]

I don't want him. His numbers were good last year, but never again anywhere else in his career, and last year he happened to play in one of the most notorious hitters parks in the majors.

 

Hmmmmmmm... count me out

 

Hmmmmmm... that notorious hitters park ranked 18th in Runs, 17th in HR and 14th in hits last year. Now Wrigley is a hitters park, ranking 2nd, 8th and 5th respectively.

 

ESPN - MLB Park Factors

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I wonder if the Rangers would do Dempster for Byrd... :-k

[frostwyrm]

You have to wonder about Byrd's attitude if he's relegated to just facing lefties. He'd probably have a new low in plate appearances, which would be particularly annoying immeditely after having a career season. I'd be a little steamed myself if I just had my best season and then get sent someplace where I'm downgraded to sitting on the bench most of the time.