By Jim Callis
June 7, 2002

The Indians acquired as much offensive talent as any club in the first-year player draft on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Friday, they added another potent bat at the cost of one which they once considered to hold much promise. Four days after benching outfielder Russell Branyan, Cleveland sent him to Cincinnati for Triple-A first baseman Ben Broussard.

Branyan, 26, quickly became one of the minors' most prolific sluggers after signing out of a Georgia high school as a seventh-round pick in 1994. He homered 40 times at low Class A Columbus in 1996, his first full season, and became legendary for his tape-measure shots and his high strikeout totals. Unfortunately for Branyan, he has distinguished himself more with the latter in the majors. In 242 major league games, he has batted .225-45-115 with 294 whiffs in 711 at-bats. The Indians grew frustrated with him this year because he wouldn't make adjustments at the plate as he put up meager .205-8-17 totals in 50 games. He had nearly twice as many strikeouts (65) as hits (33). Cincinnati GM Jim Bowden often makes one trade to set up another, and that may be what he has in mind with Branyan. The Reds have capable corner infielders in Sean Casey and Aaron Boone, and they're loaded in the outfield, starting with Ken Griffey Jr. and young sluggers Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns. Branyan has no clear path to significant playing time unless he gets dealt again.

For that same reason, Broussard, 25, has to feel liberated by the trade to Cleveland. He's capable of playing first base and the outfield—he'll see time at both spots at Triple-A Buffalo—but wasn't going to become a big league regular unless he changed addresses. A second-round pick out of McNeese State in 1999, Broussard grabbed immediate attention by hitting .332-24-75 in 78 games and reaching Double-A in his first pro summer. He led the Double-A Southern League in batting (.320) and slugging (.592) last season, and was hitting .273-11-30 in 57 games at Triple-A Louisville in 2002. In 352 minor league games, he has batted .294-77-246. He also has shown a fine eye, drawing 228 walks and compiling a .416 on-base percentage. Broussard isn't much defensively, but if he continues to hit like he has in the minors, the Indians aren't going to care. He soon could provide the solution in left field that Branyan couldn't.