Byrd, Cubs, 3/15

by jf55510 on Dec 31, 2009 11:38 AM CST

Have fun with that Chicago....

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4785125

What a terrible signing.

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The Chicago Cubs made their first major addition of the offseason, signing former Texas Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd to a three-year, $15 million deal on Thursday.

The Cubs hope Byrd can fill their center field void. Byrd is a disciple of hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, who also will be starting his first season on the north side after coming over from the Rangers.

The 32-year-old Byrd had a career year in 2009, hitting .283 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs. It was his first major league season with more than 500 at-bats; putting up career highs in games played (146), home runs, doubles (43) and RBIs.

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Byrd

A bad signing by the Cubs, but at least it’s not the 5/50 that the Angels gave GMJ.

"To have the judgment and wisdom and personal touch of Nolan Ryan, and the tremendous group that JD has assembled, I think the Rangers on the baseball side are the envy of every franchise in baseball in terms of talent."

-- Chuck Greenberg

by RCCook on Dec 31, 2009 11:40 AM CST reply actions

Yeah

It’s a bad contract, but it’s not one that will haunt the Cubs for several years like the GMJ deal.

by Darrell McKown on Dec 31, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Its not terrible

But its not good either.

Good luck to you Mr Byrd you earned the payday. I wish him nothing but good luck on the North Side

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Dec 31, 2009 11:55 AM CST reply actions

Glad he got paid

Just hope he doesn’t turn into a jerk about it like GMJ did

by rlb02a on Dec 31, 2009 11:56 AM CST up reply actions

It's not a crazy deal comparitively

I think he can be productive till 35 at least

I still believe!

by LSU Ranger on Dec 31, 2009 11:57 AM CST reply actions

Keith Law invoked Bradley

but at least the Cubs will get a high character player, even if the production dropoff might be significant

by ab03 on Dec 31, 2009 12:00 PM CST reply actions

Come on Reed Johnson!

by cstorm15 on Dec 31, 2009 12:02 PM CST reply actions

I don't think...

it’s a bad deal at all. I thought he’d get 18-20 mil over 3 years. At least the Cubs didn’t go that high or have to add a 4th year on.

If Byrd can continue what he did while in Texas (I know that’s a big IF) he’s worth 5 mil per for 3 years. Especially with the defensive value he adds to a team. I think it’s a decent move for the Cubs.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 31, 2009 12:16 PM CST reply actions

Fangraphs had his WAR

At just under 3.0 per season the last 3 years. Translates to over 12 million on their money system (flawed as it is, just saying).

If I still trusted him in CF this would be fine. But I don’t so its kind of bad. Still, its just not THAT much.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Dec 31, 2009 1:01 PM CST reply actions

People who think its a terrible contract

are fairly clueless about the price of guys you can stick in CF and can hit around 800 OPS.

Its a fairly cheap pickup.

"I don't condone steroids or any other type of growth hormones or anything else, but I could care less, and, for the most part, I don't think the fans give a (bleep). The people that care about it are the people that probably don't like baseball," - Jim Leyland

by DJCahill on Dec 31, 2009 1:24 PM CST reply actions