MLB trade rumors: Marlon Byrd requests that 2016 option be picked up before trade

The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to have a fire sale.  They really are.  The problem is that they have too many contracts that are hard or impossible to move.

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We touched on the A.J. Burnett one earlier.

Marlon Byrd would seem to be another piece that would be relatively easy to trade.  He is hitting .270 with 19 homers and 55 RBI.

At least four contenders come to mind that could use that kind of production in their order.

Another thing: Byrd has a limited no trade clause.  He can only veto trades to four teams.  The bad news?  The Royals and Mariners are both on that list, and both need another bat.

The Mariners have cooled off on Byrd, partly because they already acquired Kendrys Morales.

Another reason is that Marlon Byrd requested that his $8 million option for 2016 be picked up by those teams before a trade is made.

That is likely too much of a long term commitment for both the Royals and the Mariners.

Alex Rios is a much better option now for both of those teams.

It is also rumored that the Yankees have been sniffing around Byrd.  While the Yankees would not be required to pick up this option to acquire Byrd, it would probably be in their best interest to at least entertain the idea.

With the numbers that Byrd is putting up so far, that $8 million tag is a bargain as far as baseball salaries go for that kind of production.  Due to this, you could see the Royals or Yankees stay interested in Byrd unless they think they can land someone better by Thursday.