Marlon Byrd Close To Being Traded To The Boston Red Sox

Last season, Marlon Byrd made quite the memory at Fenway Park. In an inter-league game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, Byrd was hit in the head with a pitch by Red Sox reliever Alfredo Aceves. Byrd consequently missed the next several weeks recovering from his facial injuries. Byrd is soon going to have the opportunity create new memories in Fenway Park, and Aceves, if he has not already, will finally have the opportunity to apologize to Byrd. The reason for this opportunity is that Byrd is soon going to be a member of the Boston Red Sox.

In a trade that will likely be completed in the next 24 hours, Marlon Byrd will be dealt to the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox interest in Byrd surfaced this past week, when the team learned that center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury would miss the next four to six weeks with a dislocated shoulder. The Red Sox initially were content with not adding an outfielder from outside the organization. But it would appear that Cubs’ president Theo Epstein took advantage of the Red Sox 4 and 9 start to the season, and their need for an outfielder. Multiple sources are confirming that the Cubs and Red Sox are in the final stages of a trade that is going to send Byrd to the Red Sox.

After a took the Cubs and Red Sox nearly the entire off-season to settle compensation for the Red Sox allowing Epstein to join the Cubs’ organization, the Cubs and Red Sox were able to iron out a trade involving Byrd in little over a week. The two sides could have been discussing a trade prior to Ellsbury’s injury, but talks were obviously accelerated in light of the injury.

News of the imminent Byrd trade would seem to fit with the roster move that the Cubs made today. The Cubs placed starting pitcher Ryan Dempster on the 15 day disabled list, and instead of having Randy Wells take Dempster’s place on the 25 man roster, the Cubs opted to go with center fielder Tony Campana. The Cubs would not have brought up Campana if they did not have another move lined up. The trade with the Red Sox is the other move.

With Byrd no longer being a part of the Cubs’ organization, don’t anticipate that top prospect Brett Jackson is on his way to Chicago. The likely plan for manager Dale Sveum is have a platoon in center field between Campana, and Reed Johnson. Jackson’s Major League debut remains at least two months away.

The Cubs are expected to take on a majority of the remaining $6.5 million on Byrd’s contract in their trade with the Red Sox. As for who the Cubs are going to receive from the Red Sox,  reliever Michael Bowden could be a logical candidate. The Red Sox designated Bowden for assignment earlier this week, and with Epstein/Hoyer/McLeod a part of the Cubs’ front office, the Cubs have been speculated as logical suitors for one time #2 prospect in the Red Sox farm system.

The trade between the Cubs and Red Sox is expected to be completed within the next 24 hours. Cubbies Crib will have more information on the Byrd trade as it becomes available.