The Cubs are closing in on a three year deal with free agent outfielder Marlon Byrd, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. The deal is believed to be worth in the range of 15 million dollars.
Byrd is coming off a solid year in Texas, and will be looking to build on his past three years of success in Chicago, where his hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo for the past three years is now working.
The move pushes Kosuke Fukudome back to right field, and could mean outfielder Reed Johnson won't be with the team in 2010.
It's a pretty long contract to be dishing out for GM Jim Hendry, only because the three year deal he gave to Milton Bradley offseason failed miserably. Not only that, but Byrd is 32 years old and has only averaged 12 home runs per 162 games, with 106 strike outs to 44 walks.
Cubs fans will be happy with Byrd from the gate. He's replacing the most hated Cub since Todd Hundley, so fans will be on his side.