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Indians Sign Russell Branyan

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The Indians officially signed Russell Branyan today to a one-year, $2MM deal.  He can earn another $1MM in incentives, and the contract includes a $5MM mutual option for 2011.  ESPN.com's Buster Olney was first to report the agreement on Friday.  MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince notes that Chris Gimenez was outrighted to make room for Branyan, but will remain in camp as a non-roster invitee.

Branyan, 34, hit 31 homers and slugged .520 for the Mariners last year. They offered him the chance to return on a one-year deal with a club option for 2011 and he turned it down. Branyan was looking for $20-30MM earlier in the offseason, but he didn't find offers that lucrative. Some clubs were wary of the back issues that prevented Branyan from playing after August 28th last year.

Ultimately, the Indians and Rays were finalists and Branyan chose to return to Cleveland. He figures to get at bats at first base and DH. Branyan played 35 games at third in 2008 and he has experience in the outfield, so Indians manager Manny Acta could move him around the diamond.

Nationals Reach Agreement With Livan Hernandez

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The Nationals agreed to terms with righty Livan Hernandez on a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson.  SI's Jon Heyman tweets that the deal is worth "$900K plus many incentives."  Hernandez signed with the Nats in August of last year after being released by the Mets; he previously pitched in the organization from 2003-06.

Hernandez, 35, posted a 5.44 ERA, 5.0 K/9, and 3.3 BB/9 in 183.6 innings last year.  Fellow non-roster invitee Miguel Batista will also compete for a rotation spot.

Offseason In Review: Cleveland Indians

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Next in our Offseason In Review series, the Indians.

Major League Signings

Notable Minor League Signings

Trades and Claims

Notable Losses

Summary

In Mark Shapiro's last offseason as GM, the Indians' winter hammered home the fact that they're in full rebuilding mode.  Free agent spending was limited to a mere $2.85MM for Branyan and Redmond, while the Shoppach trade allows the Tribe to go younger and cheaper with their starting catcher.  Otherwise, it was low-risk tinkering with additions like Duncan, Kearns, and Wright.

The Indians' veteran sell-off began last summer and should continue in 2010.  Shapiro will defer to Chris Antonetti on decisions affecting the club beyond this year, as Antonetti will become GM after the season.  The pair will presumably work to move the team's biggest remaining contracts: Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook, Kerry Wood, and Jhonny Peralta.  The light at the end of the tunnel: ESPN's Keith Law ranks the Indians' farm system fourth in the game.

Derek Jeter On His Next Contract

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Unsurprisingly, Derek Jeter's news conference today broke little ground.  MLB.com's Bryan Hoch has the choice quotes from the Yankees' shortstop:

"This is the only organization I've ever wanted to play for.  I've never envisioned myself playing anywhere else. Hopefully I don't have to.  I've never been a free agent, and I've never wanted to be a free agent."

Jeter will not discuss his contract again publicly.  The one interesting note to come out of the conference was that Jeter had his agent Casey Close reach out to the Yankees over the winter but was told the team will stick to their policy and discuss contracts after the season.

So far this winter we've seen writers toss around Jeter contract estimates ranging from three years and $60MM to four years and $100MM.  He'll turn 37 during the 2011 season.

Midseason Trade Candidate: Kerry Wood

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Indians closer Kerry Wood is one of the most obvious midseason trade candidates.  A $10.5MM stopper is unnecessary on a rebuilding club, and Wood could draw interest with a strong first half.

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer addresses Wood's situation.  He says a few teams inquired this winter, "but they wanted the Indians to absorb the lion's share of his 2010 salary."  Wood, 32, was prone to home runs and walks in his 55 innings in '09.  This year the Indians plan to pitch him more often to avoid rust.

That plan could actually hurt Wood's trade value, as it may make his $11MM option for 2011 more likely to vest.  The 2011 salary becomes guaranteed with 55 games finished (the Angels' Brian Fuentes has a similar option).  A pitcher gains a game finished by being the last reliever to pitch in a game (win or lose), so it's easier to come by than a save.  Of course, a team trading for Wood may choose to use him in a set-up role.

Jose Julio Ruiz Close To Signing

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FEBRUARY 24, 4:50am: Jesus Gallo, trainer for Ruiz, tells Rangel at the Nuevo Herald that Ruiz has received bids from six major league teams and "concrete proposals" from at least three. All of the offers exceeded $1MM, but none have been sufficient to ink the 25-year-old first baseman. Last Thursday, ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure, Jr. wrote that some teams view Ruiz as being ready to join major league rosters immediately.

Gallo labels the Cuban defector's most recent try-out, on Monday against members of the Blue Jays, "his last before signing." He says Ruiz will make a decision between Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

FEBRUARY 14: Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz may be close to signing according to a report from Luis E. Rangel of the Miami-based Nuevo Herald, which was passed along by MLBTR's resident translator Nick Collias. Here are some quotes from Ruiz's agent, Jorge Luis Toca…

“In the coming week he should be signed. Perhaps we’ll be announcing something on Wednesday.”

“Toronto, Texas, Boston, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Colorado are the ones who have shown the most interest. We are also expecting an offer from the Yankees.” 

“The idea is to find a team where there is the most opportunity to rise quickly.”

With regards to the last point, Toca noted that the Yankees are the least appealing team because of the presence of Mark Teixeira. Despite that, Ruiz is currently working out at the Yanks' complex in the Dominican Republic, and Toca indicated that "millions" of dollars were being discussed with teams, as well as an invitation to Spring Training. 

The 25-year-old Ruiz hit .305/.408/.467 over 52 games in the Serie Nacional last season before suddenly defecting to the Dominican. ESPN's Jorge Arangure noted that he was more than just a masher relegated to first base, offering speed and athleticism. 

Odds & Ends: Yankees, Brewers, Mets, Paulino

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Some links for Tuesday evening…

Rafael DePaula Mulling Over Mariners’ Offer

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ESPN's Jorge Arangure tweets that 17-year-old Dominican righty Rafael DePaula is currently mulling over an offer from the Mariners. DePaula hit the market last month after serving a one-year suspension because he apparently lied about his age. The Yankees and Red Sox are also known to be interested in the righthander.

In a separate tweet, Arangure mentions that DePaula has changed agents, going from Pa'Lante Agency to Kuki Acevedo. The three parties reached an agreement in which Pa'Lante will receive some commission on whatever contract he ends up signing (another Twitter link). 

The 6'-3" DePaula has hit 97mph with his fastball in the past, and is in line for a seven-figure payday. He's considered the equivalent of a first round pick.

Discussion: Adam Dunn

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The free agent market is no longer kind to lumbering, defensively challenged players, as guys like Jermaine Dye and Hank Blalock sit here unemployed during the last week of February. Next year's free agent class naturally features a few players like that, one of whom is Adam Dunn.

The king of the three true outcomes, the 30-year-old Dunn leads all of baseball in walks (673) and strikeouts (1,063) while hitting the second most homers (244) over the last six years. As productive as he was offensively, Dunn gave a lot of it back with his outfield defense (-66.9 UZR since 2007). That's not much of a problem anymore, because he moved to first base full-time following Washington's trade of Nick Johnson.

Dunn is in the second year of the two-year, $20MM deal he signed last February, however GM Mike Rizzo has already made it known that he'd like to lock him up with a contract extension. What kind of extension do you think is fair for Dunn and the team? Perhaps something in the neighborhood of three-years, $39MM?

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