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Byrd could bat fifth for the Cubs.
December 31, 2009
By: Fred Zinkie
Marlon Byrd was rumored to be going to Chicago for a long time and those rumors finally came to fruition just hours before we close the book on 2009. How does the Cubs new outfield look? Let’s find out…..
Marlon Byrd – He will play centerfield everyday for the Cubs. He logged a career-high 547 at-bats last year and has a chance to meet or exceed that total this year. He is a hard worker and Cubs fans will appreciate that. However, there are no fantasy points for hard work so let’s discuss his raw numbers. Byrd hit 20 home runs last year – the first time in his career he had hit more than 10 in a season. It is reasonable to expect some regression in his power numbers in 2010 since his career trends don’t support a repeat. Also, leaving Texas is rarely good for a player’s power numbers. The rest of his numbers can be similar to 2009 and he could even score a few more runs, depending on where he bats in the order.
Kosuke Fukudome – He will move from centerfield to right field but that won’t have any impact on his fantasy value. He will get a chance to play everyday. He will at least play against all right-handers and if he can handle lefties well he can start against them too. He may not be able to handle them, though.
Reed Johnson – The signing of Byrd is widely expected to mean the end of Johnson’s time in Chicago. However, both sides might be wise to reconsider. Johnson won’t find an everyday role anywhere. Chicago offers him the chance to play RF against lefties and spell Byrd on occasion. That is a pretty good deal for Johnson if they can work out a good financial deal.