Byrdie to Boston

From the official press release from the Indians, it looks like we have seen the last of the Byrdman in Cleveland:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2008

INDIANS & RED SOX COMPLETE TRADE

RHP PAUL BYRD Sent to Boston for Player to be Named or Cash

CLEVELAND, OH—The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has completed a trade with the Boston Red Sox, sending RHP PAUL BYRD to Boston in exchange for a player to be named or cash. The player to be named must be agreed upon on or before January 15, 2009.

Byrd made 22 starts with the Indians this year going 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA (131.0IP, 146H, 70R/66ER, 24BB, 56K, 23HR).

The Indians will not make a move today to replace Byrd on their active 25-man roster. The club’s 40-man roster now stands at 39. The Indians are now undecided for the start on Thursday, August 14 vs. Baltimore.

Not sure if this means that the Red Sox are picking up Byrd's remaining salary or perhaps there are some contingencies tied to Byrd's performance in Boston for the possible PTBNL. The PTBNL doesn't have to be decided until early next year, but I'm not holding out too much hope for anything to come back our way from this outside of some lower level prospects or simply having Boston pick the tab up on the rest of Byrd's salary.

Not too much to make of this as it certainly wasn't unexpected and nobody REALLY thought he'd net much more than this, even given his recent success. Seeing as how the NL HR leader was just traded for one A-ball pitcher and two PTBNL, this is just how trades in August work in MLB.

So for now, let's thank Byrd for his contributions to the Tribe, have fond memories of his Game 4 in the ALDS last year in the Bronx, and wonder how he's going to react to facing those same Boston reporters who famously outed his HGH story in the ALCS last year.

More soon on something having nothing to do with this, but I thought I'd pass it along.