Eric Byrnes To Chicago Cubs, Carlos Silva To The Arizona Diamondbacks?

    Eric Byrnes was recently designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks they have ten days to trade or release him. The D'Backs still owe Byrnes 11 million for this year. Byrnes has been less than impressive in the batters box the past 2 years .218/.271/.382, while his defense has still been a positive. How would this trade help the cubs?  

     The Cubs are on the hook for 16 million over the next to years with Carlos Silva! He has been less than impressive the past couple of years in a pitcher friendly ballpark for the Seattle Mariners. In 2008 Silva had an ERA of 6.46 in 153 innings pitched with a record of 4-15 in 28 starts with a whip of 1.60 and strikeout per 9 innings rate of 4.05! Last year in 30 innings he posted an 8.60 ERA with a 2.97 strikeout rate per 9, and a 1.71 whip. Then he went on the disabled list with shoulder problems. Not very promising for the cubs.  

     Byrnes is still a plus defender and has a carreer line vs. LHP of .289/.351/.530. He also has good speed having stolen 119 bases while being caught only 20 times, for a stolen base percentage of .856. The past two years he has struggled behind the plate but has still had an ops north of .800 vs. LHP ! With some help from Rudy Jaramillo Byrnes could be a solid platoon partner with Fukodome in rightfield and with his speed and decent obp vs. LHP of .351 could be a solid lead off guy vs. lefties.

     I don't think a straight up trade is likely from the D'backs perspective, given the 5 million dollar difference in contracts. But if the cubs were to throw in a player like Mike Fontenot or Micah Hoffpauir, and or a low-level prospect to sweeten the deal this could be a solid trade on both ends, it would fill a need for the Cubs and save them 5 million dollars. Micah Hoffpauir is expendable given the addition of Bryan LaHair. Mike Fontenot is expendable since we would still have Andres Blanco and Jeff Baker to fill the 2b position. The D'Backs wouldn't just be throwing away 11 million dollars. Another possibility is Silva and a minor league catcher like Steve Clevenger, Robinson Chirinos, or Chris Robinson. Chris Snyder struggled last year for the D'Backs and then had back surgery in September adding a catcher to D'backs minors for depth should Snyder not be fully recovered or continues to struggle might seal the deal! Would this be a solid trade if Hendry pulled it off? If a trade agreement can't be reached and Byrnes is released, would he still be a solid option for the cubs for the major league minimum salary? What is your opinion?