Giants Would Be “Best Fit” For Byrnes

The Arizona Diamondbacks designated outfielder Eric Byrnes for assignment on Friday and he’s making it no secret what team he’d like to play for in 2010. The former slugger said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that the Giants would be the “best fit”. Will he wind up in San Fran right away? Nope, he might not even wind up there at all.

The DBacks have eight more days to try and trade Byrnes to another team, only catch is he has a no trade clause and can refuse any deal he doesn’t like. With his 2010 salary at $11 million he’d be pretty hard to trade anyways, especially since he hasn’t hit higher then .226 or more then 8 homers since 2007. Most of that is due to injuries but regardless his stock has dropped majorly so not many, if anyone, would trade for him at that rate.

The most likely option is for the Diamondbacks to outright release him this week and eat the salary. They’ll just pay him the $11 million and let him hit free agency. Byrnes know that is the most logical case which led to him saying the Giants were his “best fit”.

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“It’s not a real secret (that) I’d definitely be interested,” Byrnes said in a phone interview. “The Giants, of course, that’s the best fit geographically.”

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Knowing he’ll get his paycheck next season he’ll be willing to sign for the league minimum next season, something that should surely appeal to the Giants. What may be even more appealing is that Byrnes has done something not many other athletes would do. He didn’t come out saying he can still be a dominant player, he swallowed his pride and said what kind of player he actually is now.

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“I’m not in a position to say I’m an everyday player. The most important thing for me at this point in my career is to help a team win, wherever that is,” said Byrnes.

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In my opinion, the Giants would be foolish not to sign him at the league minimum. For a team working within a tight budget he’d be much more cost effective then going after a player like Johnny Damon.

Byrnes may not be an everyday starter anymore, he may not provide the big offensive numbers but he’s still a pretty good outfielder and still athletic enough where he can give the starters at all three outfield positions a break. He can also provide enough on the offensive side to where he wouldn’t be a total liability.

Byrnes calls the Giants his “best fit” but you know what Byrnes might also be the “best fit” for the Giants.