D-backs sign infielder Russel Branyan
The Arizona Diamondbacks and General Manager Kevin Towers announced Thursday that the club agreed to a minor contract with infielder Russel Branyan and invited him to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.
Branyan, 36, hit .237 with 47 runs, 25 home runs and 57 RBI in 109 games for the Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners in 2010. He started the season as a member of the Indians before being dealt to the Mariners on June 26. He led Seattle with 15 home runs despite only being with the club for 57 games. He averaged a home run once every 13.67 at-bats.
During parts of 13 Major League seasons spent with the Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, St Louis Cardinals and Mariners, Branyan hit .234 with 394 runs, 189 home runs and 453 RBI. His 56 homers since the beginning of the 2009 season rank 11th amongst all players in the American League.
The move gives the D-backs 61 players slated to report to Spring Training, including 21 non-roster invitees.
