WESTPORT, Conn. -- The Reds have spent the bulk of their offseason pursuing a left fielder and trying to upgrade their offense. Their efforts culminated in a trade on Wednesday.Cincinnati acquired veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Phillies for right-handed pitching prospect Ben Lively. The Reds will also receive an unspecified amount of cash in the deal to pick up a portion of Byrd's salary.
Byrd, 37, is set to make $8 million next season with an $8 million vesting option for 2016 that becomes guaranteed with 600 plate appearances in 2015 or 1,100 plate appearances in 2014-15, including 550 plate appearances in 2015. 
In 154 games for Philadelphia last season, Byrd batted .264/.312/.445 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs. Lifetime over 13 seasons, he's a .278/.333/.427 hitter with seven clubs.The Reds will be the well-traveled Byrd's sixth big league club since 2012.As a veteran right-handed hitter with power, Byrd was one of several Phillies expected to be traded this offseason as the club begins a rebuilding process. Philadelphia already dealt longtime shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers.In Lively, the Phils will be adding a 22-year-old who was ranked as the Reds' No. 8 prospect according to MLB.com. He began his '14 season at Class A Advanced Bakersfield, where he went 10-1 with a 2.28 ERA, 16 walks and 95 strikeouts over 79 innings in 13 starts. At Double-A Pensacola, Lively was 3-6 with a 3.88 ERA in 13 starts. He walked 36 and struck out 76 over 72 innings.Scouting report:Lively: A 2013 fourth-round pick out of Central Florida, Lively got off to an excellent start to his first full professional season this spring with Class A Advanced Bakersfield. After giving up one run in his first start of the year, he reeled off 31 straight scoreless innings -- even while pitching in the hitter-friendly California League. He went on to start the All-Star Futures Game before earning a promotion to Double-A Pensacola for the second half. Between the two levels, Lively posted a 3.04 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He ranked second among all Minor Leaguers with 171 strikeouts in 151 innings. He has a solid four-pitch arsenal, highlighted by his fastball and slider. While his stuff isn't exceptional, it plays up thanks to his deceptive delivery and above-average control.
-- Teddy Cahill
Mark Sheldon/ MLB.com
In 154 games for Philadelphia last season, Byrd batted .264/.312/.445 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs. Lifetime over 13 seasons, he's a .278/.333/.427 hitter with seven clubs.The Reds will be the well-traveled Byrd's sixth big league club since 2012.As a veteran right-handed hitter with power, Byrd was one of several Phillies expected to be traded this offseason as the club begins a rebuilding process. Philadelphia already dealt longtime shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers.In Lively, the Phils will be adding a 22-year-old who was ranked as the Reds' No. 8 prospect according to MLB.com. He began his '14 season at Class A Advanced Bakersfield, where he went 10-1 with a 2.28 ERA, 16 walks and 95 strikeouts over 79 innings in 13 starts. At Double-A Pensacola, Lively was 3-6 with a 3.88 ERA in 13 starts. He walked 36 and struck out 76 over 72 innings.Scouting report:Lively: A 2013 fourth-round pick out of Central Florida, Lively got off to an excellent start to his first full professional season this spring with Class A Advanced Bakersfield. After giving up one run in his first start of the year, he reeled off 31 straight scoreless innings -- even while pitching in the hitter-friendly California League. He went on to start the All-Star Futures Game before earning a promotion to Double-A Pensacola for the second half. Between the two levels, Lively posted a 3.04 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He ranked second among all Minor Leaguers with 171 strikeouts in 151 innings. He has a solid four-pitch arsenal, highlighted by his fastball and slider. While his stuff isn't exceptional, it plays up thanks to his deceptive delivery and above-average control.
-- Teddy Cahill
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