Marlon Byrd rejoins Mike Leake after being traded from the Reds to the Giants.
Mike Leake will see familiar face in the clubhouse Friday.
The Giants acquired another Cincinnati Red, outfielder Marlon Byrd, and cash considerations, for minor-league pitcher Stephen Johnson.
Byrd has played for eight MLB teams during his 14-year career. The 37-year-old made an All-Star appearance with the Cubs in 2010.
Byrd is hitting .237 with 42 RBI and 19 home runs this season and will cushion the Giants’ anemic outfield depth.
The Giants lost out on infielder Chase Utley yesterday to the first-place Dodgers, a blow softened by Kelby Tomlinson‘s improved play at second and with the bat. Joe Panik is due back by early September.
Hunter Pence was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a left oblique strain, making way for Nori Aoki‘s rise off the 7-day concussion disabled list. He’s in the lineup Thursday against the Pirates. Angel Pagan is still rehabbing his sore knees.
Bruce Bochy said, per CSN’s Alex Pavlovic who is with the team in Pittsburgh, that Byrd will probably play left field and Aoki will move to right while Pence recovers.
Leake also told Pavlovic that Byrd’s “got some old-man strength in him, still.” The Giant’s need for some extra pop became clear after a two-game pinch hit appearance from none other than Madison Bumgarner against the Cardinals.
Bochy sent Bum out there because he’s got the most home runs of anyone on the bench. Ouch.
The Giants lose a nice prospect in Johnson, 24, who had a 3.41 ERA in 44 games with the Richmond Flying Squirrels
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