If you believe the rumors, the Cubs are continuing to talk to Texas about outfielder Marlon Byrd and may be talking to the Red Sox about Coco Crisp in their quest for that extra righthanded-hitting outfielder who can play all three OF positions.

The 30-year-old Byrd has had a miserable spring, hitting just .152 (5-for-33) and losing ground in his battle with David Murphy (11-for-28, .393) to win a starting spot in the Rangers outfield.

The 28-year-old Crisp has played in only two games this spring, sitting out the past 12 days owing to "tightness in both groins." As of Friday, Crisp remained hopeful he would be able to join his teammates on their flight to Tokyo next Wednesday. The Sox are scheduled to play two exhibition games against Japanese teams before opening the AL season, in Japan, against the A's on March 25th.

A side-by-side look at the two:

Byrd
6 yrs
517 games
.273 AVG
.334/.394/728
26 SB
355 K
137 BB

Crisp
6 yrs
665 games
.280 AVG
.329/.409/738
104 SB
371 K
195 BB

Last year, Byrd saw time in all three outfield positions for the Rangers, the majority of it in centerfield, where he turned 88.7% of the balls hit into his fielding zone into outs.

While patrolling center for the Red Sox, Crisp did even better, turning in a zone rating of 90.9%, which placed him fourth among AL centerfielders.

(Stats from The Hardball Times)

Maybe you're not.

Phil Rogers says "a very highly placed source" tells him the Cubs and Orioles are continuing to talk about a blockbuster deal that could bring Eric Bedard and Brian Roberts to the Cubs.

Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald is obviously talking to different people:

Hendry continues to work on possible trades, but informed insiders say no renewed talks are under way for a blockbuster with the Baltimore Orioles that would bring pitcher Erik Bedard and second baseman Brian Roberts to Chicago.

During this past weekend's Cubs convention, manager Lou Piniella said he didn't believe the Cubs would land even Roberts by himself, let alone Roberts and Bedard.

Let's throw it back to Phil Rogers:

...the one name to definitely keep in mind with the Cubs is Marlon Byrd. They are having conversations with the Texas Rangers about the center fielder, and this is a deal that could happen fairly quickly, assuming the Cubs are willing to give up some pitching.

The rumor in Texas involved Byrd for Matt Murton, but others say the deal would be Byrd for two or three players, including Murton. The Rangers, like the Orioles, apparently want pitching prospect Sean Gallagher to be in a deal.

Mr. Miles?

The Cubs like Texas outfielder Marlon Byrd. Hendry is actively shopping outfielder Matt Murton.

This is making me dizzy. Here's what I think:

Roberts' speed and OBP would be nice, but the cost for upgrading from DeRosa to Roberts is bound to exceed the value of the move and its net overall impact on the Cub offense. It's not that Roberts isn't a talented batsman, but that his contribution would be mitigated by the fact that DeRosa would no longer have a regular place to play.

It would be swell to pry Bedard loose from Andy MacPhail, but Seattle seems to have more blue chip prospects to offer than the Cubs do.

With respect to Byrd, I have the feeling the Cubs are overvaluing him based on one strong partial season in the hitter's paradise of Arlington, Texas. I like Murton, though I have to admit he seems to have no well-defined role on this Cubs team.

If Jim Hendry is bound and determined to move Murton, I hope they can get more for him than Marlon Byrd. The thought that the Cubs would have to part with three or four players to get him is flat-out repulsive.

The Texas Rangers struck a deal on Wednesday with Marlon Byrd, their 30-year-old arbitration-eligible outfielder. Why might this be of interest to Cubs fans? Because, at least according to WMVP's Bruce Levine, Byrd is on Jim Hendry's shopping list.

The right-handed hitting Byrd was drafted by the Phillies in 1999, reached the majors in 2002, and spent three-plus seasons in Philadelphia before he was traded to the Nationals in May of '05. He played with the Nats in '05 and '06, after which he became a free agent and signed with the Rangers.

After starting the '07 season in the minors, he was called up on May 26th and gave the Texas offense an immediate jolt, hitting .375 with a 936 OPS through the end of June. In a total of 109 games for the Rangers last season, Byrd reached career highs in batting average (.307), HR (10), RBI (70), OPS (814) and OPS+ (113).

In six MLB seasons (517 games), Byrd has hit .273/.334/.394, with 355 strikeouts and 137 walks. He has also stolen 36 bases in 48 attempts.

Byrd can play all three outfield positions, though he has seen significantly more time in center field than in either of the corners. Still, according to the Dallas Morning News,

Byrd "is expected to hold down a corner outfield spot this season. Which corner will depend on the health of recently-signed outfielder Milton Bradley."

With the Cubs, Byrd could supplant Matt Murton as a reserve outfielder, back-up Felix Pie or Sam Fuld in center, or maybe hold down the position altogether, until the Cubs deem one of the youngsters ready for the job.