Mets Sign Marlon Byrd to Minor League Contract

FLUSHING, N.Y., February 1, 2013 - The New York Mets today announced that the club has signed outfielder Marlon Byrd to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league Spring Training.

Byrd, 35, hit .210 (30-143) with two doubles, one home run and nine RBI in 47 games combined with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox last season. The righthanded hitting Byrd began the 2012 campaign with the Cubs. He was traded to the Red Sox on April 21 with cash for minor league lefthanded pitcher Hunter Cervenka. Byrd was later released by Boston on June 12.

The 6-0, 215-pounder batted .293 (170-580) with 84 runs scored, 39 doubles, 12 home runs with 66 RBI and was named to the National League All-Star team for the Chicago Cubs in 2010.

Over 11 major league seasons with the Phillies, Nationals, Rangers, Cubs and Red Sox, Byrd has hit .278 (1,067-3,835) with 525 runs scored, 217 doubles, 82 home runs and 445 RBI in 1,103 games.