First Key Free Agent Signing

Surprising news yesterday as outfielder Marlon Byrd signed with the Phillies for two years, $16-million (and an option for 2016). Coming off his best season ever at age 35 with 24 homers between the Mets and Pirates, Byrd was in like for a big bump in pay -- but a two-year guarantee that could become three seems surprising, Keep in mind, his career was hanging by threads last March when he came to the Mets on a minor-league deal before making the team with a strong spring training. Did Philadelphia GM Ruben Amaro reach too far for right-handed power, or is Byrd whose career began with the Phils in 2002, just a late bloomer? I've got a hunch that the other available free agent outfielders, such as Beltran, Ellsbury and Choo, saw their price tags rise based on the numbers in Byrd's deal.

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