Mariners reacquire Russell Branyan in trade with Cleveland

MILWAUKEE — A need to show his players that winning games now still matters was the driving force behind Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik trading to reacquire Russell Branyan from the Cleveland Indians.

The stunning trade, announced Saturday night, sees the Mariners ship Class AAA outfielder Ezequiel Carrera and shortstop Juan Diaz to the Indians in return for Branyan, 34, who hit 31 homers in less than five months for Seattle last season.

Branyan had been in talks with the Mariners last winter, but negotiations eventually stalled and the team moved on.

What makes this deal so curious is that the Mariners just gave up a promising young outfielder, who won the AA batting title last season, in exchange for an aging bat with a history of back woes at a time they are 14 games out of first place. In a phone conversation, Zduriencik explained his reasoning behind the move.

"If you look at our team, as we move forward, just about every player who is here now will be here again next year," he said. "We're committed to the development of our players and that goal, that objective, has never changed for us. But part of that development process is also winning games. We want our players to be able to experience winning games this year. And we're trying to do what we can to give them what they need to get there."

In other words, a team that has received great pitching but struggled to score even two runs per game on many nights now has at least one serious home-run threat in the middle of the order. Zduriencik making this move doesn't necessarily mean he's given up on trading Cliff Lee, or thinks this team is about to make an historical run and win the AL West crown or the wild-card race.

What is does signal is that he's trying to maintain some credibility for the team and front office in his own clubhouse.

The Mariners have arguably played pretty good ball of late, but it became clear to just about any observer that the lack of serious power in the lineup was a nightly detriment. There was an argument to be made, as well, that the lack of power was possibly harming the bats of Chone Figgins, Milton Bradley and others who have struggled well below career norms by allowing opposing pitchers to be more aggressive with them.

Without a serious home-run threat in the lineup, pitchers often have had little to fear in putting Mariners on base via a single or a walk. Throw a home-run hitter in the lineup and all of a sudden, pitchers might think twice about letting others get on in front of him.

Zduriencik cautioned that Branyan alone is not the "answer" or savior for the team.

But he is a middle-of-the-order presence the team has been seeking since the winter. Zduriencik has made it clear he'd love to get his hands on a 30-homer bat — and now he has.

"As we move forward with this," he said, "it's important that we stay competitive. It's important that we're giving players something to move forward with. Whether it's giving them confidence, support, establishing our credibility with them, whatever. This is the future of our club and we want them to know we take winning seriously."

Branyan was scheduled to join the team here for Sunday's series finale against the Brewers.