Report: Byrd Has Four-Team NTC

Per CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury, Marlon Byrd has just four teams on his limited no-trade clause: the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays. Byrd, who turns 37 in August, leads the Phillies in home runs and slugging percentage and has a guaranteed contract through 2015 at $8 million per season. Byrd has an interesting and, perhaps, dangerous option for 2016 that vests for $8 million if he reaches 600 PA in 2015 or 550 PA in 2015 with a total of 1100 PA in 2014 and 2015 combined.

Salisbury reports that Tampa and Toronto were placed on Byrd’s list because of the way AstroTurf can wear down an older player. Byrd told Salisbury “Those really are things that were just put on at the time being,” when asked about Kansas City and Seattle. Seattle currently holds the AL’s second Wild Card position while Kansas City trails Seattle by a game and a half. Kansas City is also just 5.5 games back of AL Central-leading Detroit.

Seattle may be particularly desperate to execute a trade in lieu of Michael Saunders‘ recent injury and their overall underwhelming outfield performance (.246/.291/.351). Salisbury states that he has more than one source that say Seattle has been monitoring Byrd.