The Mets announced that they have signed outfielder Marlon Byrd to a minor league deal with an invite to major league spring training. Byrd, a client of the ACES agency, is expected to compete with Andrew Brown for the Mets' fifth outfielder spot, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com (on Twitter).
The Cubs ate $6.1MM of Byrd's $6.5MM salary in an April trade with the Red Sox that netted them Michael Bowden. The 35-year-old was suspended for 50 games in June after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. In 153 combined plate appearances with the Cubs and Red Sox, Byrd posted a combined .210/.243/.245 slash line.
Earlier this month, we heard that the Marlins had some interest in signing Byrd. For his career, Byrd has hit .278/.336/.413 for the Phillies, Rangers, Cubs, Nationals, and Red Sox.
