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UPDATE: Phillies Will Sign Marlon Byrd
By Kyle Scott
Published:
The Phillies will sign outfielder Marlon Byrd, the Mike and Ike Show on 94WIP are reporting.
A league source tells Barkann the Phillies will sign the 35 year-old outfielder. Byrd played with the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013.
This is being reported nowhere else, but we’ll take Barkann at his word* for now.
Byrd is 35 36, but had his best season ever this year, batting .291 with 24 home runs, 88 RBIs and an .847 OPS. Late-career surges like that always make me raise an eyebrow, though– especially after a guy tested positive for PEDs in 2012. Wonder if the new SABR intern calculated the risks for Ruben Amaro.
UPDATE: No one else has confirmed this report yet.** If true, though, Amaro would be the guy who says: “HEY, THAT GUY HAD CAREER HIGHS IN HOME RUNS, SLUGGING PERCENTAGE AND OPS AT 36 IN A CONTRACT YEAR A YEAR AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR PEDS! SIGN HIM UP!
UPDATE 2: The bow-tie man himself, little baby Ken Rosenthal confirms:
Sources: #Phillies finalizing two-year agreement with Marlon Byrd. First reported by WIP in Philly.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 12, 2013
Ruben Amaro is an idiot.
*Oddly enough, Byrd is the word:
http://youtu.be/NeXR_DYx4RM
Kyle Scott is the founder and editor of CrossingBroad.com. He has written for CBS Philly and Philly Voice, and been a panelist or contributor on NBC Sports Philly, FOX 29 and SNY TV, as well as a recurring guest on 97.5 The Fanatic, 94 WIP, 106.7 The Fan and other stations. He has more than 10 years experience running digital media properties and in online advertising and marketing.