Cleveland Indians bring back first baseman Russell Branyan on 1-year contract

Indians, Branyan complete 1-year contract

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Russell Branyan and the Indians have completed a one-year contract that brings the well-traveled and strikeout-prone bopper back to Cleveland, where he started his big league career.

The sides reached a preliminary agreement last week and finalized the deal Wednesday.

Branyan set career highs with 31 home runs and 76 RBIs for Seattle last season. He batted .251, but was limited to 116 games because of a back injury. He will be used primarily at first base and designated hitter in Cleveland.

The 34-year-old Branyan returns to the Indians after spending nearly nine seasons with the organization. He was a seventh-round draft pick by Cleveland in 1994 and played for the Indians from 1998-2002.