GIANTS ADD VETERAN OF BYRD FROM CINCY
The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd and cash from the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Stephen Johnson.
What does it give the San Francisco Giants
The Giants just got back veteran outfielder Nori Aoki but are still missing starting center-fieder Angel Pagan (knee, 15-day DL) and right-fielder Hunter Pence (oblique, 15-day DL), so adding veteran Byrd should help them down the stretch. When everybody is healthy, Byrd will likely head to the bench.
What does it give the Cincinnati Reds
This was a solid move for the Reds, who are clearly in total rebuilding mode at this point. Johnson is a young reliever with the potential to become a closer in Cincinnati, which might be very important if the club chooses to trade dominant Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman in the off-season (or maybe sooner).
Fantasy impact
Byrd's fantasy value remains the same (i.e. not very good). He is a player in decline who should head to the bench once the Giants outfield gets healthy. As for Johnson, he should be on the fantasy radar as a young reliever who could reach the bigs next season.
