Giants acquire outfielder Marlon Byrd from Reds

A day after losing out on second baseman Chase Utley, who the Phillies traded to the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants made their own move to boost an outfield that has dealt with injuries to all three starters. Recent injuries have plagued numerous outfielders in San Franciscoas Angel Pagan, Hunter Pence and Nori Aoki have been on the disabled list at some point this season. He also has an $8M vesting option for 2016, but that will likely become a team option because he looks unlikely to reach the 550 plate appearance mark (currently at 388). He and the Giants will play his former team at home in mid September.

LaMarre, an outfielder and 2007 Jackson Lumen Christi graduate, was called up by the Cincinnati Reds from the Triple-A Louisville Bats on Thursday afternoon, according to team and media reports. The GM said “we’ll see how it plays out” as far as if Byrd would be able to cover the spacious right field at AT&T Park. Byrd is scheduled to join the Giants on Friday in Pittsburgh.

The Giants sent minor-league pitcher Stephen Johnson to the Reds.

Byrd’s addition will allow the Giants to take the time needed to make sure Pence is fully healed from his oblique injury and not have to rush him back. Used as a reliever, Johnson has a 3-0 record, a 3.41 era in 58 innings and 68 strikeouts with San Francisco’s Double-A affiliate. He missed time with a broken left wrist after being hit by a pitch.

Cincinnati Reds slugger Marlon Byrd is packing his bags and heading out west.

This isn’t going to go down as a huge deal, but the Giants needed a fill in and they picked up one of the best available.