The Yankees signed first baseman Russell Branyan to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, reports Dan Martin of the New York Post. The move does not impact the team's pursuit of Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Raul Ibanez, notes Martin, though it could affect their interest in Eric Chavez. Branyan will make $750K plus incentives if he makes the big league roster, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Branyan, an ACES client, hit .197/.295/.370 in 146 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks and Angels last year. The D'Backs released him in May. The powerful left-handed hitter has 194 career home runs and a .485 slugging percentage.
HOLLY COW, nobody saw that coming
sadly i did i wondered why they werent in on him before a lefty dh who can hot bombs
Yeah, Russell has a job!
im so excited
Well guys, there’s your cheap DH… lol.
Yeah, too bad… btw, how’s Garret Jones working out for ya? xD
pretty good..
Yeah, what’s up with the Yankees being so cheap lately?
I guess they’re saving for future pitchers… still, the current law of MLB seems to be winning thanks to internal developement, so I guess they’re just trying to join that trend.
Branyan could hit 50 HR playing everyday in Yankee Stadium… still, he would only hit .200, and due to his platoon splits and poor health could never play everyday, so, the above sentence is completely worthless xD
50 hrs? really? really???
Sure playing every day. Over 365 days he could hit 50 home runs.
I know it’s impossible, he isn’t healthy enough, good enough batter to have on the lineup on a daily basis and he probably wouldn’t hit lefties even if they tossed him basketballs. Still, if he was healthier, had a decent OBP to go with a mediocre but not dismal average and no marked platoon splits, his raw power and swing would greatly benefit from Yankee Stadium and the protection on the Yankee lineup to put inflated power stats. Still, it’s completely impossible, as I said before, so… why debate it?
We weren’t debating, just having fun!
He hit 60 for me on the ps3, so really we should expect about 70.
Yeah for real. He actually won the MVP one year.
If you hadn’t added the laughing emoticon after that post, you’d be ridiculed beyond belief! Its a decent, no-risk signing, WTH…long as we don’t re-sign Godzilla or Damon or Ibanez- love Godzilla, but his knees are shot, the other two offer nothing we don’t have.
If Branyan manages to stay healthy and go back to his 2009 form, he will be a decent enough addition… many people seem to be forgetting that the Yankees are only looking for an seventh or eight batter that will be out of the lineup a lot and only has to replace Jorge Posada’s last season production. If it turn out to be Branyan, then it’s good enough. If Yuniesky Betancourt was a MLB regular for 6 straight years, then we can survive a year of cheap journeymen at the DH position.
If he makes the roster he could do some damage in Yankee Stadium down the right field line…if he ever makes contact.
This is without a doubt the greating spring training the Yankees ever had… Branyan vs. Bill Hall vs. Dewayne Wise lawl!!!
Don’t forget about Jayson Nix!
My bad, didn’t see Nix hiding behind Gustavo Molina’s shadow!
Actually, I can see Branyan as DH against righties, Andruw Jones against lefties, Nuñez playing 3B and SS when A-Rod and Jeter are DHing/resting and Bill Hall rounding up the bench as a super utility type covering all positions when the first option (Nuñez or Andruw) is playing field… still, with that idea, I’d probably prefer Ibañez in Branyan’s role.
I’d think signing Branyan would mean the Yankees would be out on Eric Chavez. I hope the Cubs pick him up – cheap veteran leadership, can back up at 1st and 3rd (where the Cubs are pretty thin), and he’s got some pop in his bat for good measure.
the problem with him is staying healthy, but hes a nice bench option no doubt about it
yeah he was great with the yankees starting out then he broke his foot rounding second base might have been first base but came back and still provided big hits for them. didnt get the HR’s i expected but like i said still provided big hits.
I like this signing and i dont. btw wasnt this the guy who hit the first homerun off the bar an grill in CF in new yankee stadium? i may be wrong. probably am wrong lol. oh well.
That was him. I was there.
link to mlb.mlb.com
Man, he hit that one a mile.
He was also the first to hit one in the uppers in right.
Wow talk about going cheap! Branyan did hit 31 bombs for the M’s not too long ago but he seems to have troubles staying healthy. Could work out though.
I’ve watched The Muscle play a lot in the last 3 years. He is one fun player to watch hit majestic home runs. Remember that shot he hit in the 4th deck at Yankee stadium? He’s also a great guy. Unfortunately, I think he’s done. His back problems are significant – and they caught up to him last year. He just didn’t look the same. And if you have trouble hitting in Arizona, well….
He could have a fine spring training and make the club. He always hits a ton of bombs in spring training. But even if he makes the club, his durability isn’t likely to keep him around long. Plus, he’s much better playing every day (like most players) and I don’t think giving him pinch hit opportunities and an occasional start at DH would benefit him.
So, Yankees fans, enjoy watching him crush the ball in spring training.
Players like Branyan were built to play at Yankee stadium. This could turn out to be a great signing assuming him makes the roster and stays healthy. Still think NY should consider signing Damon for the DH position.
Forget Damon. Forget Hideki. Forget Ibañez. This is THE guy.
Branyan 80 starts at DH.
A-Rod 32 starts at DH.
Jones 20 starts at DH.
Jeter 9 starts at DH.
Teixeira 5 starts at DH.
Cano 3 starts at DH.
Granderson 2 starts at DH.
Swisher 2 starts at DH.
Why do you want Arod DHing? He was above average at 3rd last year.
Rest.
We need A-Rod to stay healthy.
I agree but I hate to be “that guy.” Inter league play kind of ruins this plan.
You’re right. I forgot to calculate interleague.
Russell Branyan has hit more HRs at Yankee Stadium than any other visiting player. At least he’ll hit them for the Yankees now and not against them.
Basically Willy Mo Pena with a bad back.
didn’t Russell branyan hit the longest homer ever at Yankee stadium? I remebr it was off the cafe in centerfield……
Bill Hall and Russell Branyan.. are these the Yankees or Royals?
Damn those Yankees! Buying their way to another championship!
Seriously though, if there’s anything left in Branyan, this is where he’d show it. Best-case scenario for him.
From a financial standpoint, that makes zero sense. Figgins is basically worthless. Branyan and Hall are both low-risk minor league signings.
Check out Branyan’s platoon splits. 2008-2010 he crushed RHP. wOBA of .422, .380, and .375. He laid an egg in 2011 in only 146 total PAs. Could be that he just hit a wall and is done, but could also be a glitch he’ll correct for another year or two. I’d expect at least some bounce back from 2011.
Not sure there’s anything more than that you can say for Damon, Ibanez, or Matsui.
(I would say Jones gets more than 10 DH games, Jeter gets less than 20 and A-Rod probably gets less than 40.)
And you are… twelve?