http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/c ... -byrd.html

Cubs Step Up Pursuit Of Marlon Byrd
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 15, 2009 at 1:06pm CST]
The Cubs are pursuing Marlon Byrd more intensely, now that Mike Cameron is off the market, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Cubs, who wanted Cameron, are still trying to gain payroll flexibility by trading Milton Bradley and at least some of the $21MM he'll make before the end of the 2011 season.

The Rangers stand to gain a supplementary round selection if Byrd signs with another team (though Byrd won't cost the Cubs or anyone else a pick).



Because the last time we signed a Ranger over a career year worked out really well

If we can get him for like... 2 years at like 12 million maybe? I wouldn't totally vomit because of the move. Decent defense, similar splits against Righties and Lefties. Still lamenting not getting Cameron. Meh.

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Team Cutler.

Maybe it's just because I am comparing him to Cameron, but I hate this... a lot.

Marlon Byrd #22 CFFull Name Marlon Jerrard Byrd
Birth Date August 30, 1977
Birth Place Boynton Beach, FL
Age 32
Weight 245 lbs.
Height 6-0
Bats Right
Throws Right
Experience 7 years
Drafted 10th round draft pick
Salary 2009: $3,060,000

He hit .283 with 20 HR's and 89 RBI's last year which was definately a career year for him the year before he hit .298 with 10HR's and 62 RBI's. He has had an OBP of .380 and.329 the past two years. I guess he would be better then Podsednick but I wouldnt sign this guy for more than a 2 year deal.

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http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ma01.shtml

Similar batters

1. Reed Mantle
2. Mike Lamb
3. Felix Jose

5. David Dejesus
6. Mark Teahen
7. Coco Crisp

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Offensively, the difference isn't huge as I thoguht outside of the Home Runs. If given 400 AB's, his lowest output as a hitter was .303/.366/.418/.784. Obviously, Cameron's defense and power potential make him more appealing. This wouldn't be terrible.

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Team Cutler.

He had his best season at 32 years old during his walk year.

Right. The numbers I posted above he was 25 though. If he gave us that and could be had for 5-6 million. I would be on board with it at this point.

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Team Cutler.

seriously? you are lamenting not having mike cameron?

im not getting the feeling that this team needs another outfielder UNLESS it involves not getting taken to the cleaners just to get rid of bradley. fukudome, soriano, bradley, johnson, mighty micah or fuld or another young outfielder from in-house. at the end of last season i was so frustrated i agreed with the whole "just cut him" approach with bradley, but as the off-season moves on, im more and more inclined to just keep him. i wouldnt trade anyone unless we are getting young talent in return. let piniella and hendry do what they can this year, purge as much as you can, then both of them will be gone and this franchise can start to build a team.

You have to love the Cubs chances next season when fans are clamoring for a Marlon Byrd signing.

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I don't think there is alot of clamoring going on just discussion of a possible move the Cubs might make. If anything all of the pining for Mike Cameron makes less sense to me.

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Yes, because you and me disagree on...




IMO, he HAS to go. So, fill the spot the best we can. We certainly could do worse than Byrd given a reasonable contract. Unfortunately, Jim I'm sure will offer 3 years 25 million with a 20 million signing bonus.


I don't think Cameron/Byrd/Pods whoever else you can think of will be the cure all of this team. Just discussing the best possible fits for the hole in the outfield. Out of what was available and affordable for us, I thought Cameron was the way to go. If not him, Byrd will do.

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Team Cutler.

i know i have a much more dire outlook for this team in the long-term than most, but rather than sign yet another one of these guys that are getting mentioned, id run sam fuld out there every day even IF they get rid of bradley. im not saying fuld is a great prospect or anything, but at some point you just have to pull the plug and stop trying to patch your team together with mid-priced average talent. bite the bullet and let some of the young guys play while you attempt to unload these terrible contracts or play them out.

i like byrd, he is OK, and for a low price i wouldnt have a big issue if they signed him, but he isnt a difference maker on this team, so why bother? its just another stop-gap measure.

I agree with a lot of this.

Although it seems the management just wants to keep this team competitive until a lot of money starts to come off the books. They don't have the resources to eat the money and rebuild. Keeping it around an 80-90 win team depending on breaks keeps revenue up etc. If you are following that logic, going after Cameron/Byrd makes sense.


If you really commit to giving Fuld/Colvin/Castro and the like a lot of playing time, you are signaling to your fans that you can't win with this core. So it is time to start shopping Z/ARam/Lee/Riot/Lilly/Demp etc. While I tend to agree that this plan would get us 'closer to winning a championship' financially I think the owners believe they can keep the competitive and come out fiscially ahead than hit a couple of 60-70 win seasons would have.

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Team Cutler.

No thanks. You don't take a guy with a history of mediocrity, prior to one decent season. You look for guys with a hisory of consistent production....preferrably NOT in Texas, where their numbers seem to be inflated.

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Go Cubs!!!!

im not that excited over this guy but honestly what else is out there for the cubs to go after at this point? its a pretty weak market and i know theyre not even gonna attempt at bay or holliday.

maybe byrd will be like the other career year ranger that the cubs signed not named milton bradley. derosa was coming off a good year with a mediocre history and he quickly became a fan favorite and great hitter in the lineup. you never know i guess

That's Kirby Puckett-esque.

after his good start last year, you didnt hear too much from him after that. his average went down 50 points from 08, and his OBP and SLG each went down 60 points. he laid an egg in st louis after he was dealt. after all the hand-wringing after he was dealt, perhaps 08 was his career year after all. all 3 of the guys the indians traded for him pitched well for the cubs minor league affiliates last season.

Hendry enjoys inflated stats in Texas.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Hendry has overpaid for both good and average players. That has to stop. There is no point in bringing in a player of this caliber. Either get really good players, or go with young guys like Sam Fuld, until a truely good option presents itself. The days of overpaying for mediocrity have to end.

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Go Cubs!!!!