Marlon Byrd

According to ESPN Chicago’s Bruce Levine, the Cubs have indeed traded Marlon Byrd to the Red Sox.

The swap will be announced once the Red Sox finish their afternoon game with the Yankees. Byrd, 34, is batting just .070 with a .149 on-base percentage in 13 games this year, but he should have a little something left in the tank and will try to provide decent-quality outfield depth in Boston while Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford battle injuries.

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports the Red Sox are ”close” to acquiring OF Marlon Byrd.

Marlon Byrd went hitless again Thursday and is just 3-for-40 for the season.

The Cubs were surely hoping to get a decent prospect or two back for Byrd in a trade this year, but that’s not going to happen at this rate. Byrd figures to pick it up soon, but even if he does, it’d still make sense for the Cubs to turn him into a fourth outfielder and give Brett Jackson a look come mid-June.

Marlon Byrd is not in Thursday’s lineup.

The 34-year-old center fielder is off to a rough 1-for-21 start this season. Reed Johnson will take his place in the Cubs’ outfield Thursday against the Brewers.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that a trade involving Marlon Byrd is unlikely at this point.

Rosenthal confirms that the Cubs have indeed received calls on Byrd, with the Nationals, Braves and Phillies as potential fits, but he sees a midseason changing of the guard to Brett Jackson as more likely. The 34-year-old is owed $6.5 million, so the Cubs will likely have to cover most of his remaining salary in order to get anything of value in return.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Nationals and Braves have expressed interest in acquiring Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd.

Byrd is owed $6.5 million in 2012 and is a free agent in 2013, so he obviously doesn’t fit into the Cubs’ rebuilding plans. But the 34-year-old struggled to the tune of a .276/.324/.395 batting line last year and Chicago probably won’t be able to get much in return. Reed Johnson, Joe Mather and Tony Campana would presumably share time in center if Byrd is dealt.

Marlon Byrd has dropped 40 pounds this winter through a dramatic change in his diet and a martial arts regimen called Muay Thai.

Byrd saw nutritionist Robert Pastore in New York and made changes in his diet after it was determined that he’s allergic to milk and wheat. Coupled with his use of Muay Thai, the 34-year-old now weighs 215 pounds after tipping the scales at 255 pounds at the end of last season. “The fat started melting away,” said Byrd. “No more bloating, no more food sensitivities. My body just kicked into high gear and I was able to keep it revved up.” Byrd is set to earn $6.5 million in 2012 before becoming a free agent next offseason. With top prospect Brett Jackson not far away from the big leagues, the veteran center fielder figures to be the subject of trade talks for the rebuilding Cubs.