FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Reds are set to acquire Marlon Byrd from the Phillies.
FOX Sports' Jon Morosi wrote earlier this week that the two sides were close to an agreement before it fell apart, but they were ultimately able to get it done. Rosenthal hears that prospect right-hander Ben Lively is one of the players headed back to Philadelphia in the deal. The Phillies are expected to send cash to the Reds. Byrd, 37, amassed 25 home runs and 85 RBI in 2014 and has a good chance to continue to post solid power numbers in Cincinnati. He's owed $8 million in 2015 and has an $8 million vesting option for 2016.
Related: Reds
Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter
Dec 31 - 1:35 PM
he Phillies are expected to receive prospect right-hander Ben Lively from the Phillies in the Marlon Byrd trade.
A fourth-round pick of the Reds in 2013, Lively owns a 2.58 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 over his first 39 pro starts. He pitched between High-A and Double-A this past season and turns 23 in March. Lively is a solid get for the Phillies, who are in clear rebuild mode.
Related: Phillies
Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter
Dec 31 - 2:16 PM
Byrd has horrifying K/BB ratios that are trending severely the wrong way. He is pretty great against LHP still so perhaps they will employ a hybrid platoon or something like we did (sort of) with Craig and Adams in 2013. I'm guessing Skip Schumaker and Donald Lutz will be the LH side of the rotation for them, which is pretty uninspiring.
Byrd likely will bat 7th in the order though so his damage or lack there of will be minimal.