New Chicago Cubs Center Fielder Marlon Byrd

Welcome to Chicago Marlon Byrd!

The Delusional Cubs Fan would like to extend a warm welcome to the Cubs newest free agent acquisition and team mate.  On new years eve 2009, the Chicago Cubs signed free agent outfielder Marlon Byrd to a three year, $15 million dollar contract, making Byrd the new Chicago Cubs center fielder.

Jim Hendry loves to work on New Years Eve, as you may remember in 2008 on this same date he traded Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for three prospects, thus ruining New Years Day, if not the season, for many Cubs fans.

I think this years New Years Eve gift to Cubs fans is going to work out much better.

Meet Marlon Byrd

Marlon Byrd is an eight year veteran of Major League Baseball and has played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals and most recently the Texas Rangers.  2009 was the best season to date for Marlon Byrd;  he hit .283 with 20 home runs and 89 RBI, both career highs.

Marlon Byrd was once considered a top prospect of the Phillies and had a great year with them in his first year as a starter, hitting .303.  He failed to live up to expectations though and floundered for the next few seasons until finding his stroke and putting together three consecutive good seasons with the Rangers.  Over the past three seasons Byrd .295 batting average, .352 on base percentage and .468 slugging.

The Cubs are getting a good but probably not great hitter.  Marlon Byrd’s defense is about the same: good but not great.  He is rated by Fangraphs as a slightly below average center fielder defensively, the position he will play in 2010 with the Cubs, and above average in each of the corner outfield spots.  His versatility in the outfield may be important over his career with the Cubs, giving them the flexibility to move him around if needed.

So the Cubs are getting a good but not great hitter, a decent but not great fielder.  Statistically, Byrd is very average both defensively and offensively as compared to a replacement level player.  He could be in his prime right now or he could be entering the decline of his career. The feeling that he may have already peaked is what made him not highly in demand as a free agent compared to other outfielders available.

That said, Marlon Byrd should be a solid addition to the Cubs and make them a better team in 2010 and beyond.  He will also be about a 1000% upgrade over Milton Bradley clubhouse chemistry-wise.

Marlon Byrd Baseball Cards

Why Marlon Byrd is a Good Signing

The signing of Marlon Byrd has been met with equal amounts of praise and disdain by Cubs fans, shrugs from others.  The main criticism is that Byrd is likely to be on the decline as a player and that the Cubs signing him for three years was too much.  Some fans feel like the Cubs have invested too much in an average player when they could have chosen to go with a cheaper in-house option like Reed Johnson or Sam Fuld.

Others are disappointed that while other teams have been working to add impact players to their teams, that the Cubs have added a player who won’t really be a difference maker.

I think it appears that the Cubs have made a good deal here though, and here’s why:

Money – Although there were other outfield options available like Matt Holiday and Jason Bay, both of those players were seeking big money deals, and the Cubs did not have the resources to pick up another top level contract this year.  Those free agents are very likely to be overpriced, earning more in a single season then Marlon Byrd will over his three.

Marlon Byrd is projected to give the cubs +2 wins a year, while $65 million dollar a year Jason Bay gives only +3 wins a year but costs $50 million a year more.  If the critics are wrong and Marlon Byrd puts up another year or two offensively like he did last year, a $5 million a year outfielder will be a good deal.

The Cubs didn’t break the bank this time and they didn’t need to.  Byrd has a contract that appears to be in line with his market value.  If the Cubs decide they need to go a different direction and trade Byrd in a season or two, he won’t have an untradable contract like Soriano has.

Defense – Marlon Byrd is slightly below average as a center fielder but statistically is a huge improvement over Fukudome in center.  Having Byrd means Fukudome can move back into right, where he is rated as above average defensively.  This signing improves the Cubs defense in both center and right field substantially.  (Nothing can be done about left field but that’s another story.)

Versatility – Marlon Byrd can play all three outfield positions well.  This versatility will give the Cubs more options in the outfield in the future.  In the coming years, Byrd could shift into right field if Fukudome were traded or when his contract runs out.  It also allows the Cubs to keep the center field position open in the future for Cubs prospects Brett Jackson or Tyler Colvin.  Byrd can also step in at any position in the outfield if there is an injury.  He can shift to left in late innings as a defensive substitution for Soriano and Sam Fuld can move into center, giving the Cubs a solid outfield defense.

Offense – This is the major unknown in the signing.  How will Byrd’s shift to the National League effect his hitting?  Will batting in Wrigley change his stats significantly?  Was last year his career year or will he still perform at an equal level.  This remains to be seen but it seems unlikely the Cubs will have any drop off in offense compared to Bradley.  If Byrd can come close to his totals last year, it will be a good deal and a boost for the offense.

Best Available Option - The Cubs signed the best available outfielder to suit their needs this season while still giving them versatility in the future.  No mater what fans wanted, the Cubs could not go after Bay or Holiday when they already have Soriano in left.  They didn’t have the prospects that the Tigers wanted to get Curtis Granderson and Mike Cameron decided to go play for Boston.  Marlon was the best choice left.  He is better than Scott Podsednik or Rick Ankiel.  The Cubs were able to improve their outfield offense and defense, and did it at a reasonable price.

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The Cubs are now a better team than they were before the offseason started.  They have a versitile new outfielder who plays solid defense and is considered to be a hard worker and someone who leads by example.  Marlon Byrd may not be the most game changing new player, but the Cubs are improved.  Anger management problems should no longer be an issue.

So…. a big welcome to the Chicago Cubs new centerfielder Marlon Byrd!  Welcome to Chicago my friend.  I wish you the best of luck and hope that you fit right it.  Let’s have a great season.

GO CUBS!

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Related Links
Marlon Byrd Jersey
Marlon Byrd should be asset – Chicago Tribune
Byrd fills Cubs’ need in CF – Chicago Sun Times
Byrd fills Cubs’ need in CF – Chicago Sun Times
Marlon Byrd Defensive Stats – Fangraphs.com
Cubs Sign Marlon Byrd To Three-Year Deal – Bleed Cubbie Blue
Marlon Byrd Stats – Baseball Reference
Cubs’ Jaramillo on Byrd: Marlon is a good teacher – Chicago Breaking Sports
Newly signed Byrd says Cubs were ‘No. 1 choice’ – Chicago Breaking Sports