Marlon Byrd Rumors

Potential Braves Targets

David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sums up players on the Braves' radar as they attempt to augment their offense. Most of these names have already leaked out in stray rumors: Mark DeRosa, Josh Willingham, Mike Cameron, and Jermaine Dye. Carl Crawford is also on the Braves' wish list, as we learned yesterday from Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times. In a more speculative sense, O'Brien adds that Xavier Nady and Marlon Byrd "could be possibilities." For the sake of argument, if it came down to these seven hitters, which would you prefer? Using Bill James projections and the...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Orioles, Brewers, Green, Sellers, Astros, Byrd, Vizquel, A's

Some more links as the weekend begins... Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun notes that the Orioles didn't make any contract offers on the first day of free agency. Nick Green doesn't expect to back with the Red Sox, according to Dan Barbarisi of The Providence Journal. Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Marlins, Royals, Tigers and Reds are currently baseball's most active sellers. The Astros signed minor league free agent Jose Valdez, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com (via Twitter). The Brewers agreed to sign Santo Aybar, according to ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. The 16-year-old shortstop has to...   Continue Reading

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Rangers Likely To Let Byrd Walk

According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, the possibility of free-agent outfielder Marlon Byrd returning to the Rangers is "growing dim." Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and Byrd's agent, Sam Levinson, spoke during the GM meetings in Chicago. But negotiations still haven't moved in a positive direction. "We've had a decent amount of conversation," Daniels told MLB.com. "I expect them to test the market. Based on what they're looking for...we're not in a position to do that right now. We expect them to talk to other clubs and see what's out there. We're going to be looking at alternatives." Byrd, 32, hit...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Uggla, Granderson, Lackey

Links for Thursday... MLBTR will be mentioned on ESPN2's SportsNation program today at 3pm CST, check it out! FanGraphs' Dave Cameron thinks the Marlins are shopping Dan Uggla a year late, and believes he'd be expensive enough in 2011 that the Marlins "are really only selling one year of value." David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says not to dismiss the Uggla-to-left field rumor, in relation to the Braves. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald at the GM Meetings that "one club, I think, changed course a little bit, with more players being available."...   Continue Reading

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Milton Bradley Suitors

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at the Milton Bradley situation in an article this morning. Sullivan, like many, sees the Rangers as the favorite. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News looks at all the factors there. Giants GM Brian Sabean was quizzed about a possible bad contract swap for Bradley, and shot down the idea. The Mets and Rays appear in the mix to a certain extent, with Omar Minaya even admitting he'll talk to Jim Hendry about it. Luis Castillo figures to be in that discussion, but Sullivan says reports suggest Mets ownership may...   Continue Reading

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Rangers Notes: Vizquel, Byrd, Rodriguez

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan examined what some of the Rangers' plans might be this winter, and here are some of the highlights... A right-handed bat is at the top of the Texas wish list for the off-season, with Sullivan singling out Jermaine Dye as perhaps the best fit for the Rangers amongst the veteran hitters on the free agent market. There is a good chance that veteran shortstop Omar Vizquel will re-sign with Texas before the club's exclusive negotiating period for free agents ends on November 19. Sullivan reports that "there appears to be genuine interest on both sides" to bring...   Continue Reading

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Discussion: Marlon Byrd

32-year-old outfielder Marlon Byrd makes for an interesting free agent case. He set career highs with 599 plate appearances, 20 home runs, and 89 RBIs this year. On the other hand, his .329 OBP and 5.3% walk rate fell short of his 2008 marks. Byrd played all three outfield positions, as usual. He logged the majority of his innings in center field. His defense in center ranked as a slight negative according to UZR/150; it was a positive in previous years. John Dewan's plus-minus system also saw Byrd as a slight negative in center. If Byrd is treated as a...   Continue Reading

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Rangers Talk: Payroll, Byrd, Pudge

Rangers president Nolan Ryan talked to reporters today. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan and has the story. Ryan said to expect payroll to remain in the same range next season, meaning around $68MM. By my calculations the Rangers have about $44MM committed before arbitration raises to Josh Hamilton, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson, and Frank Francisco. GM Jon Daniels should have around $15MM with which to work. Ryan doesn't plan on the Rangers signing a big-name free agent to a long-term deal. The team wants to re-sign Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez while adding a right-handed bat and multiple pitchers (veteran...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Jenks, Byrd, Wedge

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal has a new column up with a few interesting hot stove items. Let's dive in... If the White Sox are going to move Bobby Jenks, they'll probably do it early in the offseason. The market for closers this winter (both in free agency and via trade) is decently strong and GM Kenny Williams will want to be involved in all negotiations from the get-go. Or the White Sox could decide to hand the ninth-inning role to Matt Thornton and find a new setup man among the remaining free agent arms in January. Texas wants to re-sign Marlon...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Bengie Molina, Marlon Byrd

Links for Wednesday... NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says reports suggest the Rangers may be the top suitor for high school lefty Yusei Kikuchi. Newman adds a new team to the mix for Kikuchi based on comments from GM Ed Wade: the Astros. More from Newman, on what he calls "an interesting counter-point to the Kikuchi situation." Well-regarded Dominican righty Rafael DePaula, who has been suspended by MLB for misrepresenting his age, might head to Japan to begin his professional career. Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News talked to Giants pitcher Jonathan Sanchez, who hopes the team re-signs catcher...   Continue Reading

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