Marlins Make an Offer to Russell Branyan

by GameFish on Feb 2, 2010 5:51 PM EST in News and Rumors

This just in.

OK, so it was in a little while ago. I'm in a meeting. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Marlins have made an offer to Russell Branyan.

The Marlins offered a one-year deal to free agent first baseman Russell Branyan, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark. The offer contains a "low base and lots of incentives," and Branyan would have to pass rookies Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison on the depth chart for a starting job.

If he does sign, hopefully the plan would be to use him as a lefty off the bench, and not as the everyday first baseman.

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Branyan had a great season last year

so I doubt he’d accept a role of a PH/backup 1B for the Marlins.

Even though he’s been on the market far longer than I would’ve expected, I think wherever he goes, he gets a crack at starting. He raked with the Mariners, and that’s playing half his games in a canyon.

by FloridaownsFSU on Feb 2, 2010 6:23 PM EST reply actions

Amezega to the Dodgers

http://www.truebluela.com/2010/2/2/1289625/alfredo-amezaga-to-dodgers#comments

Not sure why bonerface’s picture is in there though.

by tdp992 on Feb 2, 2010 9:29 PM EST reply actions

I've been wanting the Marlins to pursue Branyan

He’ll at very least be able to replicate Gload’s output from last season, and he’ll be able to support Morrison or Sanchez, both of whom are likely to struggle if given the starting role.

Chris Coghlan is NLRoY (that's a +1 for me!)
Miami Dolphins are headed back to the Playoffs (fail...)
Wants to see Mardy Gilyard in a Dolphins uniform next season, make it happen Parcells!

by ocelotfox on Feb 3, 2010 12:30 AM EST reply actions

No righty?

We already have Wes as a left handed pinch hitter, though I guess he could be relegated to defensive sub.

Go Nevada Wolf Pack!

by BacksThePack on Feb 3, 2010 9:51 AM EST reply actions

Wes is right-handed.

Marlin Maniac, a Florida Marlins blog
Come attend Intro to Sabermetrics 101!
Check me out at Beyond the Box Score as well.

by SFiercex4 on Feb 3, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

So I screwed up the righty and leftyness...

.. of Gload and Helms? Or was Gload a righty like I thought?

Go Nevada Wolf Pack!

by BacksThePack on Feb 3, 2010 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

Nope

Gload’s a lefty. And now that he’s gone I’m curious as to who our main pinch hitter against RHP is gonna be… I guess it’s gonna be Wes Helms full time?

by tdp992 on Feb 3, 2010 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

I am an Angel fan but I love what the Marlins do, they are always competetive and spend very little. Thet should sign Branyan move him to third, that lineup would be sick. The Mariners finally gave him a everyday spot and he proved he could play, he did hit 31 homers which is the same as what Uggla hit. His average was 251 which isnt to bad, but you could hit him anywhere from the 3 hole to the 8 hole, if they add this guy I would go to Vegas (sorry Obama), and lay a bet for them to win the NL pennant. Go Fish vs. Halo’s 2010 World Series.

by Halo Matt on Feb 3, 2010 11:06 AM EST reply actions

Branyan can't play third. Well, maybe he's not a whole lot worse than Cantu. I don't know, the infield's going to be ugly I think.

Marlin Maniac, a Florida Marlins blog
Come attend Intro to Sabermetrics 101!
Check me out at Beyond the Box Score as well.

by SFiercex4 on Feb 3, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

It's been ugly for years now

but at least Hanley has shown progress…

by FloridaownsFSU on Feb 3, 2010 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

And Uggla's slowly getting a bit better at second, but yeah, I'll take Cantu and Branyan on the corners over ANY Bonerface appearances

Chris Coghlan is NLRoY (that's a +1 for me!)
Miami Dolphins are headed back to the Playoffs (fail...)
Wants to see Mardy Gilyard in a Dolphins uniform next season, make it happen Parcells!

by ocelotfox on Feb 3, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

That much is true. It's just frustrating to see.

Marlin Maniac, a Florida Marlins blog
Come attend Intro to Sabermetrics 101!
Check me out at Beyond the Box Score as well.

by SFiercex4 on Feb 3, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, why not?

Branyan’s not a long-term solution, but he’s clearly a better hitter than Cantu. (Branyan is a better hitter against righties then he is against lefties, sure… but Branyan against lefties is as good as Cantu overall.) Plus he’s a great walks guy — remember what happened when we added Johnson to the lineup? Made matters tougher for opposing pitchers in general.

Not that Branyan vs. Cantu is even the question — I would assume signing Branyan would mean a starting infield of Cantu-Hanley-Uggla-Branyan. Which is a little disappointing in that it acknowledges that Morrison (and, I suppose, Sanchez) will not be up next year. But let’s face it — they probably weren’t going to be anyway. And while that’s not a great defensive unit in the infield, it’s very solid behind the plate.

It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...

by 3.3seconds on Feb 3, 2010 2:39 PM EST reply actions

it's got to be

better than a Bonfacio – Hanley – Uggla – Cantu infield.

Or is that experiment over for good?

by brickell on Feb 3, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

No doubt

Maybe somewhere along the road Boni will be our 2B since our team seems to love Coghlan in LF so much, but I don’t think there’s any chance he starts at 3rd for us this year. Cantu will be our third baseman and the 1st base job should go to Sanchez or Morrison, or Branyan hopefully.

by tdp992 on Feb 3, 2010 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

I feel like Coghlan in left is not going to last.

I mean, unless he keeps averaging that ridiculous BABIP… which, no offense to Coghlan, isn’t happening. I see no reason to believe Coghlan has the bat to be a more than mediocre LF.

It’s hard to say, really… Hanley, Coghlan and Maybin are the only guys who I’m convinced are definitely in our long-term plans. (Well, also Morrison and Stanton, when they get up to the majors.) So if Uggla is out next year, or even midway through this year, who knows?

It's a good thing Larry Bird's initials weren't MJ. '80s basketball was confusing enough -- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Marles Jarkley, Mominique Jilkins... Makeem Jolajuwon...

by 3.3seconds on Feb 3, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions