The Red Sox have acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Cubs in exchange for relief pitcher Michael Bowden and a player to be named later, the teams announced Saturday night. It's no secret the Red Sox have been seeking some outfield help in the aftermath of Jacoby Ellsbury's dislocated shoulder -- not to mention Carl Crawford's recovery from offseason wrist surgery and an elbow injury on top of that. Thus, Byrd, being in the last year of his contract on a rebuilding team, makes perfect sense.
Byrd, 34, is off to a horrifying start to the 2012 season, as he's hitting just .070/.149/.070. That's three singles in 43 at-bats with three walks. Last season, Byrd hit .276/.324/.395 with nine homers, 35 RBI and 51 runs in 119 games. He missed time following getting hit in the face with a pitch in Fenway Park -- which is obviously now his new home.
Byrd is making $6.5 million this season in the final year of his backloaded three-year, $15 million contract. Exact details aren't yet clear, but the Cubs appear to be picking up the majority of that salary.
Until Crawford and/or Ellsbury return, the Red Sox current outfield was Darnell McDonald, Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney. Now Byrd joins the mix.
Bowden, 25, has a career 5.61 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 39 games at the major-league level. In just two appearances this season, he has a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with three strikeouts in three innings.
Former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein now runs the Cubs, with his former second-in-command Ben Cherington being the current Red Sox GM.
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