Giants pick up Marlon Byrd in trade with Reds
Cincinnati Reds' Marlon Byrd swings at a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in Phoenix. The Reds defeated the Diamondbacks 4-1. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
SAN FRANCISCO - PITTSBURGH (AP) — The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd and cash Thursday from the Cincinnati Reds to boost their injury-plagued outfield.
Giants general manager Bobby Evans confirmed the trade, which also was announced by Cincinnati on Thursday. A day after losing out on second baseman Chase Utley, who the Phillies traded to the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants made their own move to boost an outfield that has dealt with injuries to all three starters.
Center fielder Angel Pagan is on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee injury. Left fielder Nori Aoki came off the seven-day concussion list Thursday ahead of the series opener at Pittsburgh as right fielder Hunter Pence went on the DL with a strained left oblique injury.
Byrd, 37, hit .237 with 19 home runs and 42 RBIs in 96 games with the Reds. The Giants become his seventh team since 2012.
The Giants sent minor league reliever Stephen Johnson to the Reds. The 24-year-old right-hander was 3-0 with a 3.41 ERA in 44 games with Double-A Richmond.
Pence has been limited to 52 games after beginning the season on the disabled list with a broken left arm, which prevented him joining the lineup until May 16. He is hitting .275 with nine homers.
The Reds acquired Byrd from the Phillies last Dec. 31 to fill a void in left field, but now the team is out of contention and Byrd is a pricey piece. He is earning $8 million this year and has an $8 million club option for 2016 that becomes guaranteed if he has 509 at-bats this year. He currently has 359 at-bats. He missed time with a broken left wrist after being hit by pitch.