Report: Red Sox Close to Acquiring Marlon Byrd From Cubs

by Ricky Doyle on Sat, Apr 21, 2012 at 1:29PM

The Red Sox have reportedly been seeking help since losing Jacoby Ellsbury to injury. That help might soon arrive in the form of Marlon Byrd.

The Sox are close to acquiring the veteran outfielder, according to The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo.

A deal isn't done yet, but the Cubs have reportedly been actively shopping Byrd, while Boston has been searching for outfield depth since Ellsbury went down. Jason Repko's injury on Friday further complicated matters for Boston.

Byrd is hitting just .070 (3-for-43) this season with Chicago, but he was named an All-Star in 2010. The 34-year-old hit .276 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 119 games last year, and hit .293 with 12 home runs and 66 RBIs during his 2010 All-Star campaign.

Byrd hit a career-high 20 home runs and drove in a career-high 89 runs in 2009 as a member of the Texas Rangers. He signed with the Cubs as a free agent the following offseason.

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox have looked at other outfield options as well.