Pronk Needs You!

The fire sale continues, as the Tribe has traded 37-year-old right-hander Paul Byrd (affectionately known on this site as Age and Treachery v2.0 [the 2.0 signifies his new look windup]) to FEDBU-Lite for cash or a PTBNL.  While it is sad to see Byrd go now that he’s pitching well again, it’s pretty much a move the Indians had to make for a couple reasons:

• Saving money – Byrd was due about $2 million over the remainder of the season to pitch meaningless games.  That money can now be spent next year.
• Blocking younger players – The Indians now have a rotation spot in which to evaluate more of their young pitching talent.  Most likely we will see either Zach Jackson (acquired in the Sabathia deal) or Aaron Laffey in that spot beginning tomorrow.
• Gives Byrd one more opportunity to be in a pennant race.  Byrd signed with the Indians, apparently over higher valued offers to pitch elsewhere, because he felt that the Indians had the best opportunity to contend.  Now that the Indians are playing out the schedule, giving Byrd the opportunity to pitch meaningful games down the stretch for another team (even the evil FEDBU-Lite) is the right thing to do for a good-hearted guy like Byrd.