Marlon Byrd is grateful to the New York Mets for helping him revive his career last season.

Byrd signed a Minor League deal with the Mets last offseason. He went on to hit .285 with 21 home runs in 425 at-bats. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at midseason and signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies before this season.

"I needed a team to sign me, believe in me," Byrd said. "They let me go out there and play my game. They gave me a chance to make a team. When I made the team, and they needed me to run out there every single day starting right around June, I did and I put my game together. Hopefully I helped them out a little bit, me and Bucky bringing Vic Black back [in the trade] -- a strong arm, a closer for the future. Hopefully we helped each other out."

Byrd is hitting .277/.311/.426 with three home runs and 17 RBIs this season.