According to Fox Sports'
Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies have traded 37-year-old outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds for a package that includes minor-league pitcher Ben Lively. Just two days ago, there was another Fox Sports
report that a deal between the two teams involving Byrd "fell apart." Now, it appears both sides have come to an agreement.
As Rosenthal noted, Byrd is owed $8 million for this upcoming season and an $8 million vesting option that will trigger if he receives 550 plate appearances in 2015. The Phillies are expected to foot much of the bill in return for a group of players that will bolster their minor league system.
Lively is a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher that was ranked as the seventh-best prospect in Cincinnati farm system after the 2014 season by Baseball Prospectus. Splitting time between High-A and Double-A last season, he had a 13-7 record with a 3.04 ERA, 171 strikeouts, and 51 walks in 151 innings. Lively has the reputation of a pitcher that uses deception rather than an overpowering arm.
During Byrd's lone season in his second go-around with the Phillies, he hit .264 with 25 home runs, 85 RBI and a .757 OPS in 154 games.
