Cubs trade Marlon Byrd to Red Sox for Michael Bowden and PTBNL

Overshadowed by Philip Humber's perfect game today was the Cubs move to trade struggling outfielder Marlon Byrd for Red Sox pitcher Michael Bowden and a PTBNL.

Bowden, the 47th overall pick in the 2005 draft, has ranked as high as 2nd on the Red Sox 2009 Top 10 prospect list by Baseball America.  He has a career 3.19 ERA in the minors and has a 5.61 ERA in 59.1 major league innings.  He profiles as a #3 starter.

Before Cubs fans get all excited about the prospects of Brett Jackson's arrival in Wrigley Field, Bruce Levine reports that Theo Epstein and company will not promote Jackson (or Rizzo for that matter) until the feel he is ready. Levine goes on to say that the general rule of thumb is that prospects should receive 500 AB's at the AAA level before they are promoted.

Currently, Jackson has only 247 AB's (through Friday) in 63 games.  At that pace, it would probably take him around 65 more games to reach 500 AB's or around the end of June.

In the meantime, the Cubs will likely give Tony Campana a shot to show what he can do.  Campana is a good contact hitter (83% career contact rate in minors) and has excellent speed.  He could provide the Cubs with another option for the leadoff spot.

One things for sure, the youth movement continues in Chicago.