Free agent outfielder Marlon Byrd signs a minor league deal with Cleveland Indians

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Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Marlon Byrd, 38, has signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on Thursday. Byrd became a free agent when the Giants refused to grant his 2016 salary of $8 million dollars to remain with the team at the end of the 2015 baseball season. Byrd was not to find another baseball team in the Major Leagues that was willing to give him a contract to play for their baseball team until the Indians who are in need of another outfielder since Abraham Almonte is currently suspended for 80 games by officials of Major League Baseball for his violation of performance-enhancing drugs and Michael Brantley is currently recovering from surgery to his right shoulder which will likely keep him out of the starting lineup by Opening Day 2016 when the Indians will be hosting the Boston Red Sox on April 4, 2016. If Byrd makes the Indians team, he will likely be playing as a platoon outfielder since he has the ability to hit left handed pitchers of the opposing team during the 2016 baseball season. Byrd is 14 year veteran of the Major Leagues that has played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants since he made his debut in the Major Leagues with the Phillies in 2002. Byrd has at least three weeks to impress the Indians in the remainder of the current Spring training sessions in an attempt to play baseball for his 15th season in the Major Leagues in 2016.