Marlon Byrd traded to the Cincinnati Reds

Marlon Byrd has been traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds, according to multiple reports, which indicate that pitcher Ben Lively will be going to the Phillies as part of this deal.

It is a somewhat curious move by the Reds, who have primarily been sellers this offseason, dealing Alfredo Simon and Mat Latos from their rotation in separate deals.  Byrd, who is due $8 million in 2015, and who has an $8 million vesting option for 2016, is coming off a season where he hit .264/.312/.445 as the Phillies' regular right fielder.

The 37 year old Byrd spent three seasons with the Rangers from 2007-09.  He signed his current deal with the Phillies after experiencing a career renaissance in 2013, when he increased his OPS from 2012 by 359 points, reviving what appeared to be a career that was coming to an end.

Like Seth Smith, who was traded yesterday, there was some speculation that Byrd might be someone that the Rangers would have interest in, but there was very little in the way of rumors to suggest that Texas was ever seriously interested in him.

Lively, who turns 23 in March, was a 4th round pick of the Reds in the 2013 draft.  He split the 2014 season between high-A and AA, pitching well at both levels, and is considered to be a pretty decent prospect.  The consensus from the Twitterati seems to be that this was a very solid return by the Phillies for Byrd.