Mariners sign big-hitting Russell Branyan to one-year deal

To witness the newest Mariners power hitter in action is apparently to love him.

That's what Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik was saying Wednesday after showing Milwaukee Brewers journeyman Russell Branyan some affection with a one-year contract worth a reported $1.4 million, with $500,000 in incentives. Zduriencik worked in Milwaukee's front office when Branyan, dubbed "Russell the Muscle" by Brewers fans, belted three of the four longest home runs in Miller Park history.

And though Branyan has spent a decade as a part-time player, Zduriencik is so enamored with his upside that he's getting a shot to be an every-day first baseman.

"It looks that way," Zduriencik said. "I know what Russell can do. He can put together some spans where you sit back and go, 'That was very impressive.' "

There is still much that can happen between now and spring training to change the team's anticipated role for Branyan, who bats left-handed and can also play third base and designated hitter. This still is a transitional phase for the Mariners, who also announced on Wednesday the hiring of Rick Adair as pitching coach and onetime New York Yankees closer John Wetteland as bullpen coach.

Adair, a former Mariners farmhand, most recently served as a minor-league pitching coordinator for the Texas Rangers. Wetteland won a World Series ring with the Yankees in 1996, but Mariners fans may best remember him as the closer who yielded a tiebreaking grand slam to Edgar Martinez in Game 4 of the American League Division Series in 1995.

"It's all in a day's work, right?" Wetteland joked in a conference call with reporters.

Both Adair and Wetteland know new manager Don Wakamatsu from his coaching stint in Texas, and they believe a major challenge will be getting Mariners pitchers to live up to their talent billing.

"You can have a lot of players that have a lot of talent, and still not really realize how talented you are," Wetteland said. "You love to really be in a situation where you can take the ceiling off of people."

Wakamatsu admitted he has been so preoccupied with putting his staff together that he has yet to seriously look at his potential lineup and where someone like Branyan fits.

There is plenty of room for debate over Branyan, who turns 33 this month and is with his eighth major-league club.

His career on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .813, along with 133 home runs in 2,000 major-league at-bats, indicates some serious power.

But Branyan has also struck out 797 times — which would average out to 200 whiffs in a typical 500 at-bat season. It's a big part of the reason Branyan, who broke in with Cleveland back in 1998, has never had more than 378 at-bats in a season (2002, with the Indians and Reds).

"I think, in the past, people have been scared of the swings and misses," he said.

But that wasn't the case in Milwaukee last season, when Branyan posted some of the best numbers of his career. He put up a .925 OPS, with 12 homers and 20 runs batted in in 132 at-bats.

Branyan insists playing time had everything to do with it. He began the year at Class AAA Nashville, then was called up by Milwaukee on May 25 — hitting five home runs in his first nine games.

"I think it was a product of how I started the year, he said. "In AAA, getting everyday at-bats here and there. And then when I did get called up to the big leagues, I started playing every day."

Zduriencik said he's prepared to offer Branyan "as much playing time as he's had in his career."

It's the kind of playing time Branyan said he was prepared to seek out in Japan next season until the Mariners came calling. Branyan's contract has a $250,000 bonus if he reaches 200 plate appearances.

"The more I get to play, the at-bats get better," he said. "I've always done better with the more consistent reps. And from what I've been told so far, in Seattle, I'm going to have the opportunity to get those reps."

For Zduriencik, praised as the type of talent evaluator who can find hidden gems, this signing represents his first real demonstration. He shrugged off a suggestion Branyan is merely good value for little money.

"This is one of the bigger raw power bats out there — period," he said.

Big words, to be sure. But they'll seem prophetic if "Russell the Muscle" lives up to his nickname.

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