Marlon Byrd's vesting option reportedly stalling trade talks

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Marlon Byrd is reportedly pushing to have the club exercise his 2016 option before giving consent to a deal involving teams on his no-trade list.

Byrd is signed through the end of 2015 at $8 million, and carries a vesting option at the same figure for 2016 dependent on plate appearances over the next two seasons. 

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, Byrd's option is stalling trade talks with at least one team:

Coincidentally, the Mariners and Royals, two teams that could use a little more offensive pop, are on Byrd's limited no-trade list that includes only four teams. It seems that at least one of those teams is believed cool to a request that the option be picked up.

Previous reports suggested Seattle was not interested in triggering Byrd's option in order to make a trade. The other two clubs on the 36-year-old's four-team no-trade list are the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Phillies outfielder remains a relative bargain given his middle-of-the-order production. Byrd is hitting .279/.334./.430 with 19 home runs through 102 games this season. He appears to be a lock to eclipse his previous career high in homers (24) set last year.