Earlier this afternoon the New York Mets announced the signing of outfielder, Marlon Byrd to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
The 35-year old outfielder hit .210 with two doubles, one home run and nine RBI over 47 games with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox last season. Byrd tested positive for a performance-enhancing drugs in June. However, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York Mets officials his 50-game suspension is viewed as served even though he was released by the Red Sox June:
During the 2010 off-season, I was a big advocate of the Mets going after Matt Holliday, but viewed Marlon Byrd and John Lackey as good back-up plan if the Holliday sweep stakes got to high. I remember thinking adding a starter — which the club needed back then — and an outfielder — which they seem to need every year — was a good way of killing two birds with one stone. Instead, the Mets signed Jason Bay. And the rest, as they say, is history. While both Lackey and Bay were utter disasters since in 2010, Byrd batted .293 (170-580) with 84 runs scored, 39 doubles, 12 home runs with 66 RBI and was named to the National League All-Star team for the Chicago Cubs in 2010.
Over 11 major league seasons with five teams, the right-hander has hit .278 with 82 home runs and 445 RBI. I must say, I have no problem with this signing and will be interested to see if Byrd can work his way onto the Major League roster:
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