PITTSBURGH — The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd and cash Thursday from the Cincinnati Reds to boost their injury-plagued outfield.
A day after losing out on second baseman Chase Utley, whom the Phillies traded to the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, the defending World Series champions made their own move to help 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.
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.
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.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
