Marlon Byrd signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.
This year Byrd revitalized his career while playing for the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit a combined .291 and had a career-high 24 homeruns and 88 RBI’s during the regular season. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro wanted to add a power-hitting right hander to the outfield mix due to the outfielders having injuries, according to ESPN.
"Marlon adds a significant upgrade both offensively and defensively to our outfield," Amaro said in a statement. "He has been particularly productive against left-handed pitching, which was a serious challenge for us this past season. He is an experienced middle-of-the-order hitter who creates some balance to our lineup. With his talent and clubhouse presence, we believe Marlon will be a solid addition to our club as we address our needs and plan to contend in 2014 and beyond."
Byrd will have an $8 million salary the next two years, with a club option for $8 million in 2016. Last winter he played in the Mexican League, trying to make it back to the majors. He hit .210 with one homerun in 47 games before serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for Tamoxifen, ESPN notes.
Byrd is a 12-year veteran. He started his career with the Phillies, where he played for four seasons, according to the Atlanta Black Star. In 1,250 career games, Byrd has hit .280 with the Phillies, Pirates, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, Nationals, and Rangers.