Arizona Scoops Up Branyan
After wondering where saber-sweetheart Russell Branyan would play this upcoming season, we now know he will be joining the fangraphs crew in Arizona – not literally, but close. In an offseason where Mark Kotsay signed a major-league deal, Branyan and his .350 wOBA of a season ago will join the Diamondbacks on a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training…really.
Branyan has been a hot topic around these parts with two articles yesterday looking at possible destinations for the muscle. As a Rays’ fan I agreed with Jack Moore that he was born for the Rays – or at least a better backup plan than Casey Kotchman. My AL East Rival, Joe Pawlikowski suggested the right-handed heavy Blue Jays would be a good fit as well.
Playing first base on a regular basis is probably not a great fit for the fragile Branyan; however, he and Chase Field are a perfect match. According to Statcorner’s park factors Chase Field is a left-handed hitter’s dream with abov- average marks in every extra-base category. Despite turning 35 this past December, Branyan continues to post excellent power numbers, hitting 56 home runs in the past two seasons with an ISO around .260.
On the other hand, Arizona’s on-field situation may not be an ideal match. In addition to Branyan, the Diamondbacks have several options at first base including Brandon Allen and a pair of former Yankees in Xavier Nady and Juan Miranda. As Jonah Keri explained Allen comes with the most upside while Nady and Miranda are better served in as bench options. If the team had to choose between Allen and Branyan, Allen would be the better choice; however, his ability to roam left field would allow room for both sluggers in the lineup on most days.
The one knock on Branyan is health and it is a rather big knock. Between platoon duty and back injuries, he has topped 100 games just four times in his career. In fact, his career-high of 134 came way back in 2002. As he ages, the injury concerns only intensify. Meanwhile, he has played in 225 games over the past two years and racked up over 900 plate appearances. Surprisingly, Branyan might not be as bad as one would think as a defender. He’s earned positive UZR’s over the past two years in nearly 1,500 innings of sample size.
There is a non-zero chance Branyan’s back is completely toast. That said, at the low cost of a non-roster invite it is worth finding out. While we don’t know exact figures yet, one would guess the guaranteed salary isn’t extravagant and any incentives will probably be based on plate appearances. If that is the case, and he stays on the field long enough, he should provide plenty of power in the middle Diamondbacks’ lineup at a bargain price even if he doesn’t fill an immediate need.
In the meantime, Mark Kotsay really did get a major league deal.
Tommy Rancel also writes for Bloomberg Sports and ESPNFlorida.com. Follow on twitter @TRancel
Just as I was preaching in the other Branyan posts. Its a solid low risk move by that could certainly. His back may blow up, but if it doesn’t a lot of teams will be kicking themselves
Lyle Overbay gets 5M, Carlos Pena 10M…and Branyan is on a MILB deal.
Some things aren’t entirely right in the world.
I’m not sure why he is such a sabremetric darling. He has 12.9 WAR in 3252 PA or not much better than 2 WAR per full season – only a little better than league average. He is not a defensive standout, posting numbers that aren’t reflected by WAR. He can not stay healthy. He has posted those 5 1/2 seasons over 12 years. Nobody is going to sign him to big guaranteed money (or even medium guaranteed money) knowing that his backup is likely to get as much or more playing time as he is. That K%…wow. I know the prevailing opinion is that strikeouts aren’t all that much different than other outs but 38.4% for his career? If he could stay healthy for 600 PA and had an average strikeout year he’d set a record for most K’s in a year. His best year in 2008 (31.8% of 152 PA) puts him at 185 for the year. I don’t know where that would put him all time but Barry Bonds is 10th with 189 in a year. That’s his best year. And it was his shortest “full” year. Even if you really believe a K is no worse than hitting into a 5- 3 groundout you have to be impressed by that. The guy makes Mark Reynolds look like a contact hitter.
Sorry. Bobby Bonds, not Barry. Interestingly, the top 9 are all from the last 5 years.
Against right handers, he is a well above average bat thanks to his power. And advanced metrics show him to be a slightly above average fielder at first base. So on paper he appears to be a star quality player when he plays exclusively against right handers. Usually that profile pays allot more in this league than a minor league invite.
Reynolds career K% of 38.7%, and getting worse.
Branyan 38.4% career, 34% the last three years.
He certainly makes Reynolds look like a contact hitter alright.
I do have to point out that Reynolds was playing hurt for much of last season. He had a leg injury that most definitely affected his swing. His numbers did get worse, but I have a feeling they will get better this coming season.
“The guy makes Mark Reynolds look like a contact hitter.”
And this is the irony in all of this! The Dbacks traded Reynolds, mostly because of thier misguided quest to cut down on strikeouts above all other considerations (such as, does the guy produce runs?)
I’m assuming Branyon is no longer a viable 3B man, because that’s where the Dbacks’ biggest need is. The Blum/Mora platoon is a hideous downgrade from Reynolds’ production last year (unless Mora finds a time machine and goes back 10 years). So now the Dbacks are older, slower, not any better defensively (I argue it’s a downgrade there too), and minus a lot less pop. Well, they did get two unproven relievers that are no guarantee to be much above replacement-player value though. AARGHHH.
Russell Branyan is one of my favorite players in the history of the game, which is strange, but true.
Wait, Russel Branyan is the name that Richie Sexson took when he made the deal with the devil to extend his baseball career right?
Free Brandon Allen?
Saber sweetheart? He had a .323 OBP last year. He sucks.
you forget his home runs make Adam Dunn’s home runs look like singles. the dude has hit some of the farthest home runs ever hit in almost every stadium he has ever batted.