Nats, Phils give center fielders new homes

By Matt Meyers
May 14, 2005

In a challenge trade of 27-year-old center fielders, the Phillies sent Marlon Byrd to the Nationals for Endy Chavez on Saturday. Both players split time between Triple-A and the majors this season and could benefit simply from a change of scenery.

Byrd has the higher upside. He appeared to be Philadelphia's long-term solution in center field after finishing fourth in the 2003 National League rookie-of-the-year voting after he hit .303/.366/.418 with seven homers and 45 RBIs in 135 games. But he quickly fell out of favor in 2004, when he hit .228/.287/.321 with five homers and 33 RBIs in 106 games, and spent the first month of this season at Triple-A Scranton. Byrd hasn't made the same consistent hard contact he made in the minors. He's average defensively and on the bases. He's a career .271/.332/.377 hitter in the majors, with 13 homers and 79 RBIs in 256 games.

While Byrd has one solid season on his big league résumé, Chavez doesn't even have that. Speed is his best tool and he makes good contact, but he doesn't get on-base enough or have enough power to be much of an asset offensively. He hit .277/.318/.371 with five homers, 34 RBIs and 32 steals in 132 games last year. His unwillingness to make offensive adjustments led to his demotion to Triple-A New Orleans for most of 2005. His speed makes him a good defender in center field, and he has a good arm for his position. In 346 big league games, he has batted .263/.304/.366 with 11 homers, 96 RBIs and 53 steals.