Broussard traded to Rangers for infield prospect

An anxious Ben Broussard spent all day by his telephone waiting for news about his future.

When it finally came, he was floored. The 31-year-old had expected to hear whether he'd been tendered a contract by the Mariners or set loose as a free agent.

Instead, he was told just before the 9 p.m. PST contract tender deadline that he'd been traded to the Texas Rangers and was surprised because it's close to his home. The Mariners receive minor-league second baseman Tug Hulett in the deal, while Broussard gets a second chance to jumpstart a stalled career.

"As soon as I heard the news, I said, 'Wow, that's only two hours from where I live,' " said Broussard, who resides in Beaumont, Tex. with his wife and two daughters. "I get to play two hours from where my wife and kids live. This is a dream. It's like getting to play for the hometown team."

The Mariners opted to tender a contract to disappointing starter Horacio Ramirez — a move that will surprise some, despite the thin pitching market. Part of the reason could be the continued uncertainty over whether the team will sign free-agent Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda or pull off a trade for Baltimore ace Erik Bedard.

Seattle cut loose left-handed relief pitcher John Parrish, who becomes a free agent after being acquired by the Mariners in a trade with Baltimore last August.

In acquiring Hulett, the Mariners appear to be serving notice to second baseman Jose Lopez that he needs to raise his level of play. Hulett, 24, the son of a former major-leaguer, spent last season in Class AAA where he played mainly at second base and hit No. 2 in the order.

His ability to also play third base makes him a candidate for backup infielder and there's little doubt the Mariners acquired him with an eye toward pushing Lopez. Hulett hit .275 with a .759 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) and showed an ability to draw walks while playing for the Rangers' affiliate in Oklahoma City last season.

Lopez floundered through a miserable second half and finished with an OPS of only .639 last season. An inability to draw walks or get on base — for an offense that has had its struggles in those departments — contributed greatly to his poor numbers.

The M's had hinted for weeks that they would offer a contract to Ramirez, who is arbitration eligible and earned $2.65 million last season. It wasn't clear how much the Mariners offered Ramirez, who went 8-7 with a 7.16 earned-run average during a difficult first season with the club.

Ramirez now has the choice of accepting the team's offer, or going to an arbitration process.

Broussard has a shot at becoming the everyday first baseman in Texas, a position thrown wide open by the trade of Mark Teixeira to Atlanta last summer. The departure of Broussard comes less than two years after the Mariners acquired him from Cleveland.

On the verge of becoming an everyday player with the Indians, Broussard was reduced to a backup role at first base and in two corner outfield spots with the Mariners. He'd made his desire for more playing time clear to Seattle management once the season ended and felt Wednesday night as if somebody listened.

Broussard had worried at last summer's trade deadline that he'd be dealt to another city just as his wife was back home expecting their second child.

"I feel as if they thought about that a little with this deal," he said. "I look at it as they've done right by me. They listened to what I was telling them. It's tough playing this game when your family is so far away.

"I know they have to do what's right for the team, but in this case, they've made things better for me on two different fronts. It's something I won't forget."

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.

Read his daily blog at www.seattletimes.com/Mariners