With a surplus of outfielders –– and the need to activate pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka –– Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine needed to clear up a roster spot by chopping out one of the outfielders.
Byrd, acquired via trade from the Cubs on April 21, was the victim. Before Saturday’s game, Valentine announced that the team had designated the 34-year-old outfielder for assignment.
“Marlon came here and kind of saved the day and now he’ll more than likely be with another team,” Valentine said. “Hopefully it’s not in our division whose competing against us. He did a good job while he was here, we just needed room for a starting pitcher for today.”
The emergence of Daniel Nava made Byrd expendable. Since getting called up from Pawtucket on May 10, Nava has become a key contributor for the Red Sox, hitting .311 with two home runs, 19 RBIs and a .443 on-base percentage through 28 games.
“When we got Marlon there was a real need for outfield depth, and Daniel has filled in very nicely there. He’s done a great job,” Valentine said. “Of course, Darnell coming back, it was kind of a decision of Darnell or Marlon.”
When McDonald suffered an oblique strain last month, Byrd remained an option off the bench. Once McDonald was activated from the disabled list earlier this week –– and collected two doubles –– it essentially sealed Byrd’s fate.
McDonald’s familiarity with the organization also proved to be a factor in Valentine’s decision.
“He’s had a little more history here, obviously,” Valentine said. “Coaches and all were much more familiar with him and we feel that he might be able to give us a little more extra-base power when hitting against left-handers.”
The Cubs sent Byrd to the Red Sox in exchange for Michael Bowden, who was also designated for assignment.
Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
