Tribe adds Russell Branyan on the Eve of Spring Training

The Indians agreed to terms with Russell Branyan Thursday as the club prepared to welcome pitchers and catchers into their Goodyear, Arizona complex this weekend. Branyan signed aone-year major league contract and is expected to compete with Matt LaPorta for the every day first base position. Adding Branyan seems to imply that the front office doesn’t believe LaPorta has completely healed after his surgeries this offseason. Branyan will also give the Tribe some DH insurance as well in case Travis Hafner doesn’t perform any better than he has the last two seasons. Due to his high strike out ratio, Branyan will have to improve at the plate before he convinces the Tribe management that he can be an every day player. Don’t count LaPorta out yet, he could easily make the roster as a spare infielder if he shows that his injuries are behind him this spring.

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By Robert Gonzalez
Cleveland Indians Correspondent

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