After fielding offers from Boston, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and possibly a few others, free agent 1B/DH Russell Branyan has chosen to sign with the Indians. From Buster Olney:
Indians Sign Slugger Branyan To One-Year Deal
Heard this: Russell Branyan has agreed to terms with the Indians. Branyan's deal is for one year, and an option - a $2 million base salary for 2010, up to $1 million in incentives this year, plus a $5 million mutual option with the Indians for 2011.
Branyan hit 31 home runs and put up an OPS of .867 with Seattle a year ago, but a back injury put a premature end to his season and dampened a potentially aggressive market for his services. There was a rumor that Branyan was initially seeking a three-year deal in the $20m range, and while that may have been exaggerated, a $2m 2010 base is well below what one would’ve expected from a player with Branyan’s numbers, and it’s only happened this way because teams are unsure about the health of his back.
Cleveland will be a homecoming of sorts for Branyan, who spent the better part of nine years with the organization after being drafted. Seven years have passed since he left, but Branyan remains a similar player, a low-average, high-strikeout lefty bat capable of hitting the ball 500 feet. With the Indians this time around, he’s slotted to back up Matt LaPorta at first base while offering reserve help at DH and possibly third base and left field should the need arise. There’s no guarantee of significant playing time, but there is that potential, and Branyan will be able to produce at the plate as long as his back is up to the challenge.
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