WEDNESDAY, 2:21pm: Byrnes has been released by the D'Backs, tweets MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. Welcome to our free agent list, Eric!
FRIDAY, 1:52pm: The D'Backs have designated Eric Byrnes for assignment, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The D'Backs will presumably have trouble trading Byrnes, who has some no-trade protection and will make $11MM this year. The club may well end up releasing him within the next ten days.
If they release Byrnes, the D'Backs will have obtained a hugely disappointing return on the three-year $30MM deal they signed the outfielder to in 2007. In the 482 plate appearances he's made under the new deal, Byrnes hit .218/.271/.382. Byrnes, 34 next month, was a positive on defense in nearly 900 innings the last two seasons, according to UZR.
yankees will open their arms
I like him better than Garnder if he can be had for cheap
Even if he signs for league minimum, which he most likely will, Garder will probably give the team more value.
Probably get the most value if they were platooned. Byrnes is much better against lefties than Gardner is.
so will the giants
I really hope the Braves don’t sign this guy. Wouldn’t surprise me though, they like to sign s*** outfielders.
The worst S**t outfielder signing of recent times was the Dodgers signing Andrew Jones. The guy gets 36 million for two years , comes to spring training rotund, strikes out about half the time, and when the fans boo him he says “he does not care what the fans think”Plus he has a big smile on his face after every strike out.He could not hit water if he fell out of a boat on the lake. He might as well have pulled a Gary Templeton and just given the fans the finger.
he is probably better than any of the leftfeild options the braves have available.. on a one year deal could be a very good pick up allows the braves to venture out and use melky as a tradeing chip this season if say a pitcher goes down diaz and melky could bring a very valuable return. but i agree with you in a sense that he is way past his prime
He’ll clear waivers and be released… what a waste of money.
About time, can’t stand that scrub.
there has been some connection between him and the sox the last couple of years
Forgive me, I had not seen many Eric Byrnes games, but was his speed for real or did he just attempt to steal a lot?p.s. The commenting interface is ambiguous. Above it says “Required: Please login to comment.” But the submit button says “Post as Guest”, as though I could do that if I wanted.
It’s on now.
Spicoli needs to find a hitters paradise, or find out how to stay healthy..
Welcome to the Padres!
He’s Moorad’s boy and we have a need for a right-handed outfielder. I hope he’s signed by the end of the day.
I see him as a very likely candidate not only because of his connection with Moorad and the Padres needs for a right handed hitting outfielder that CAN play CF but also because with the Padres he would probably get more playing time in contrast to other teams.
I was actually thinking he’d be the kind of guy the Reds go after for their LF vacancy. He’s a low risk play and should sign for league minimum given his AZ salary.
I think the Pads idea may have a lot of truth. I think Harriston Jr. is the better signing, but the Padres cannot get into a bidding war with the Yankees and Mets. IF Byrnes is healthy he may be an OK solution for the Pads until Durango or Hunter (or whomever they get when Bell, Kouz and A Gon is traded) is ready.
Could get signed on the super cheap, 1 mill or so…Would not be soooooo bad, would it ?
I think Jerry H Jr. is by far the better signing for several reasons. I agree with you and have said the same thing about bidding with teams such as the Mets or Yankees.
I think Eric will be VERY cheap around the league min. and why not continue to go after both!
If Byrnes is cheap 1 million and under, Hairston IF HE WANTS to play here could be had at probably 2.5 3-4 million for both those players, yea, do it!
I cant see the Pads signing both, unless they only see Harriston Jr as that utility infielder they are looking for (but isnt that spot filled by O. Salazar?) I think it would add to the logjam in the outfield, as well as take money away from the #5 and the catcher they are wanting.
I see Harriston as the clear choice, but, I think Byrnes will be what they get only because of the cost. If the 7-8 million number that the Pads have to spend is accurate, and you spend 1 mill or less on Byrnes, then maybe you have the means to look at a better pitcher (Smoltz?), where if you sign Harriston, you are locked into something of lesser quality.
I can see Russ Ortiz and Eric Byrnes sitting at the bar.. Waiter comes over… “Here ya go Gentleman (setting down two frosty pints), Compliments of the Arizona Diamondbacks sitting at that table over there”! “You two are drinking for free!!”
Not a bad guy to sign on the cheap. Decent speed, fan favorite.
Not a bad possiblity for a 4th OF with the Cubs. He can atleast platoon with Fukedome. Would rather have Reed Johnson.
Finally!
Diamondbacks are sleepers for the NL title.
Sleeper for which NL title?? You mean like THE title ? I doubt it…maybe not even the NL west title…
Yeah okay. I think the Pirates are gonna be a sleeper team this year, too.
400K to be the Cards 4th OF…..Mo’s “low hanging fruit”
I say Pads or Braves. More likely Pads though….
Eric is a Cali boy. He’ll show up in SF, OK, LA or SD. He’d probably prefer Jints but they’d have to dump Fred Lewis or somebody to make room.
I remember him tearing it up in the short-season Northwest League for Southern Oregon back in the day… His legs are 3/4 of his game, if he gets them back it shouldn’t be inconceivable he’d make a solid number 4 OF for somebody (an ex-Bruin in LA could be a possibility, on the cheap).
The Giants need to pick him up.. Hometown love baby
DFA Lewis, grab Byrnes. Can you say upgrade?
CHONE Lewis ’10: 1.3
CHONE Byrnes ’10: 1.2
Apparently you can not say it.
Upside is way bigger for Byrnes than Lewis.
Definitely home town love. San Fran LOVES Burnsy… and IF healthy a viable option at the lead off spot platooning in center and right field…. and really who would you rather have, F-Lu or Burnsy? dude has more heart in his little toe than F-Lu will ever have. Sign dude to a minor league deal that is intensive based if he makes the club and has X number of AB’s…. done dealio. He’d be here in a heartbeat… Good club house guy, would run through a wall for ya, still has speed, could probably still hit ya 10 to 15 bombs steal a bag or 6… I see this one as a WIN WIN!!!Line-upBurnsySanchezSandyHuffDeRosaRowandRenturiaPosey/??PitcherBerating of my post to start in 3….2….1……
You are aware Johnny Damon is out there right?
Best Giants team:
1B: Bowker (why wont they give him a chance? he’s awesome.)
2B: Sanchez
SS: Uribe
3B: Sandoval
C: Posey
LF: Damon
CF: Rowand
RF: DeRosa
Bench: Huff-Lewis-Renteria-Shierholtz-backupcatcher
LOL…. You actually think the Giants are going to pony up Damon money? Ha… From the immortal words of larry the cable guy… Thats funny right there, I don’t care who you are!!!
GET’R DONE SABIAN!!!!
Byrnes would not be a starter for Giants. Bowker and Schierholtz will compete for RF / 4th OF spot.
Bynes really cant help any teams, his hamstrings are shredded, he cant play the OF and his hitting is abysmal. I have no idea how he gets work over Kenny Lofton.
I agree he does nothing for a team when injured …but do you have his medical reports from this week? Or are you working out along side him with his rehabilitation program with his personal trainer?
Only a matter of team will tell if he is of value, until then only one could assume he is a low risk high reward player. Of course he is a question mark, that is why is is being released. Now, for other teams that could play him full time of next to nothing, what’s the gamble?
Come on Jedi…get this deal done!!
WORD!
lol If the Pads sign him do we really have to pay him? lol I mean he is getting 10 Mil for doing nada right out of the box…..
lol He becomes a FA, I couldn’t see him signing for much over the league minimum. Of course they could try to deal him lol but as it is no way unless the D backs pick up all of his salary and get a player in return, not likely.
The only MAJOR concern is health. They could pull another Prior. However…he’d be cheaper, so not so high of a risk.
Yea, either way there not investing much into a “risk” and that could actually in a sense make it easier for them to go out and get Jerry Hairston Jr as well, unless Byrnes would take away that much from Hairston Jr., which is very possible, but to have both would be very solid!
First Dye then Contreras and now Byrnesy….. oh what a tangled web we weave lol at this pace I don’t want to know who we sign….lol Just keep it a secret until opening day …it will hurt less that way ;0
To be honest I think as Padres fans we are even lucky at a chance or either Dye or Byrnes. lol
I mean in contrast to other players of that ilk, such as Reed Johnson etc.
I wish we could just Get Jerry Jr. Locked up and avoid any further ” possibilities of interest” he’s only the perfect fit. Maybe we are waiting for the guys who no one is going to sign and we throw league Min at them? Getting Rick Ankiel for 1 Mil would be kinda cool…lol
They are DEF waiting, but Ankiel is another lefty, I would agree if he was switch or right handed. If they lose out on Dye or Byrnesy lol AKA “johnny hustle”, they will look at Winn and Johnson. I hope they get Jerry too! In fact a combo of Jerry and Eric, or Dye would be intriguing. Dye ONLY if they intend to trade Adrian. Of course IMO they will trade Adrian anyway, so that is moot I suppose.
I know what you mean man…. I wouldnt have went for the Ellsbury and Buckholtz deal…Imagine Ells roaming Center for years to come and Blanks moved to his spot at 1st also opening up a full time gig for Veneble in right…. I like it but most would’nt even though we might be better now with those 2 guys then we are with just A-gone…
I know Pad fans don’t want to hear that but Micky I think you liked that trade too right? Man Imagine Ells and Cab at the top of the order?
opps I mean would have…not wouldnt
Absolutely! Ellbury, Buch, Westmorland or Casey. A combo of many players can be bantered about endlessly, but yes!
That’s exactly right…but can you ever see a scenario where we’d out bid NY?
The one thing we can offer is more playing time, ring and pine, or play ball… I would play some baseball!
Byrnes career line..games-948, ab-3170, runs-481, hits-824 2B-189 3B- 30 HR-109 RBI-396 BB-247 K-529 SB-128 CS-23 AVE-.260 OBP-.321 SLUG-.442 OPS-.763
diaz career line……475 1280 158 397 61 11 36 161 71 258 25 13 .310 .358 .459 .817
Cabrera career line… 569 1923 250 518 90 12 36 228 171 246 44 14 .269 .331 .385 .716
He’s not very good, but at least you know you’re getting full effort out of him. Hopefully he can come back 100% and put up some decent numbers. I have my doubts though.
“full effort” is one way to put it yes lol
haha I was trying to be nice
Byrnes will end with the Padres. He will be healthy, motivated and eventually win an everyday job – 2010 statline: .264, 16 HR, 65 RBI, 25 SB. marc
Not a bad projection. I agree
The Cubs should sign him cheap as the Fukudome platoon partner they are looking for and then spend the money in reserve on Felipe Lopez. A 1 year deal at league minimum plus you’d be bringing back positive defense
First off, if he’s released the dbacks STILL have to pay him 11 million dollars for 2010, OH MAN what a disaster!! Byrnes has officially etched his name into the conversation of worst contracts in MLB history!! The sad part is, the reason he won’t be playing is not due to being down with injury. SO BAD!
I actually would like to see him compete for the 4th outfield spot for the Dodgers, give some competition to Repko and Paul
Josh and Eric Byrnes are related. Josh gave a ridiculous contract to Eric Byrnes because he is a family member and now lets him walk away this season with $11 Million without doing any work. Josh Byrnes should be fired.
Even though Josh Byrnes took responsibility for the contract, don’t believe it. It was all Moorad. He has a big mancrush on Eric Byrnes. In 2007, Josh Byrnes publicly said they wouldn’t sign Eric Byrnes. And EB’s signing caused Hairston and Quentin to be traded.
Josh Byrnes isn’t a bad GM. The only bad move that HE made was the Scherzer trade. And even that was understandable (viewed Scherzer as reliever, so the trade was two RP’s for two SP’s).
I could see him as a good fit in toronto as the 4th outfielder but no more than that
Byrnes’s tank is empty , The Arizona a small market team is eating 11 million for him to play somewhere else. In his big year his game was power and speed. He can’t seem to put a solid wood on the ball. He seems to hit an infield fly every time and the hamstrings will flare up it’s only a matter of time as it’s a terrible injury that has long lasting effects.
he should be a color commentator or something like that. he was really funny doing the baseball stuff on fox. i wish the angels would get this guy and get rid of rex hudler.. well actually they already did, and with rory markas’s death (RIP), who knows. probably not, just observing.
Don’t kid me here. The Angels got rid of Hudler?
Hudler is the worst tv broadcast man in baseball. I’m not an angels fan so I didn’t listen to him much, but being on the west coast they would play a lot of the late games that I would catch. If the angels broadcast was the only one available, I usually opted to mute.
haha yeah i heard that they did, because it was just going to be Rory Markas. but now that he died i dont know what they are going to do. I am an angels fan, and i agree with you, i dont like listening to the guy talk about his time in the bigs and stuff it was annoying.
welcome to the giants…We’ll sign him its where he wants to be and it wont cost us anything…no risk signing
I hope the Yankees can pick him up for a reasonable price.
He had 50 stolen bases 3 years ago… sounds like a KW signing.
exactly what i thought when i saw he was released. for the sake of avoiding arguments, i am not saying that is a good thing, that is just what i thought.