Jul 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Marlon Byrd (3) hits a double during the seventh inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Pirates trade rumors took a very interesting turn last night when it was reported that the Pittsburgh Pirates were showing interest in Marlon Byrd.

Pirates showing interest in Phillies LHP Antonio Bastardo and OF Marlon Byrd, sources say. @FOXSports1 — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 29, 2014



Yeh, that Marlon Byrd. The Byrd man, the player that delivered key hit after hit during last seasons stretch run for the Pirates.

Pirates trade rumors are swirling about Marlon Byrd. Yeah, the same Marlon Byrd that delivered the big hit in the first inning of the NLDS.

It’s well known that the Pirates need a right handed bat off the bench. The interesting part about Byrd is the barrel chested slugger is signed through the 2015 season and even has a club option for the 2016 season when he would be what, 38 years old?

We have heard Colin Dunlap of 93.7 The Fan describe that several people have told him that Jose Tabata isn’t the best influence on players like Starling Marte and perhaps Gregory Polanco. While Tabata is starting to heat up in Indy, it’s possible that no matter what Tabata does, he may never be back in Pittsburgh.

Tabata has been a good right-handed bat, but he can’t match the production Byrd has provided in recent years. Byrd is the anti-Tabata and could provide some magical leadership or whatever the Bucs brass desires for Marte and Polanco–which the Pirates must feel is valuable in their development. But will Byrd continue to produce offensively is the question–he certainly hasn’t slowed down this season and blocking him from going to St. Louis or Cincy would be very smart as well.

Once acquired, Byrd could be moved at any time as a right handed slugger–an extremely valuable asset in Major League Baseball. As everyone wrestles with where Byrd would fit, think of this–perhaps the Pirates don’t feel great about Starling Martes’ concussion? Another more strange thing to consider is perhaps the Bucs are seriously working a deal for Starling Marte? Having Byrd in the lineup against the occasional left-hander would be better short term than sending up Polanco. There are a lot of places Byrd could get some at bats down the stretch.

The basis for why the Pirates would be interested in Byrd, is what Byrd did last year after coming over from the New York Mets. The Bucs loved the approach to the game that Byrd provided. There is a lot to be said about the Bucs going after a player like Byrd.

While everyone is trying to make it make sense, the real thing to consider is having a slugger like Byrd is a great idea. What’s wrong with having a player that can really hit instead of a player like Michael Martinez on the roster? Especially when the player will be traded from a Ruben Amaro led Phillies ball club–the Bucs could steal Byrd and get the Phillies to pay some of the salary if money were to concern the Pirates.

It’s a deal for now. And that confuses a lot of people.

Click here for our take on the Pirates trade rumors