Reports: Phillies to sign Marlon Byrd for 2 years, $16 million

Marlon Byrd saw his plate production increase in 2013. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Phillies plan to sign outfielder Marlon Byrd, as first reported by 94WIP radio. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports confirmed the deal via Twitter. Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports the deal is for two years, $16 million.

Byrd, 36, saw his production increase in 2013, hitting .291/.336/.511 with 24 homers and 88 RBI for the Mets and Pirates. The Mets traded him to Pittsburgh in late August. He was especially potent against lefties batting .344/.376/.583 with eight homers in 178 plate appearances last season. He has a career average of .280, with a career OPS of .761 in 12 seasons in the majors. Those numbers ranked Byrd as one of the best valued right-handed hitters on the current free-agent market.

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Byrd is returning to the club that drafted him in 1999. He played for the Phillies from 2002 through the early part of 2005. He subsequently has played terms with the Nationals, Rangers, Cubs and Red Sox.

https://twitter.com/SportsRadioWIP/status/400283502618640384

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/400292802032312320