Indians send Branyan back to M’s

June 28, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Acknowledging that their season is lost, the last-place Cleveland Indians traded Russell Branyan back to Seattle for a couple of prospects and put their youth movement in fast-forward by bringing up first baseman Matt LaPorta.

LaPorta, acquired from Milwaukee in the trade for C.C. Sabathia two years ago, was in the starting lineup Sunday for the final game of an interleague series against the Cincinnati Reds. He’ll become the everyday first baseman with Branyan gone.

“Russell did perform at the level we expected him to perform,” general manager Mark Shapiro said. “The rest of the club, however, did not.”

Shapiro has spoken generally with clubs about trading other players, but said nothing is close.

The 34-year-old Branyan had career highs with 31 homers and 76 RBIs with Seattle last season. He missed the last month of the season with a bad back. Cleveland signed him on Feb. 24 to a one-year deal that includes a $2 million salary and a $5 million mutual option, thinking he could help them be competitive.

The Mariners get Branyan and a player to be named or cash. Shapiro said the Mariners will cover the rest of his salary, and the Indians will most likely cover the buyout if the mutual option isn’t exercised.

“It’s a familiar place. I have a lot of friends over here and I had a great time here last year,” said Branyan, who’ll be the starter in Seattle. “Playing in Cleveland was a good time. We had a lot of young players over there, [I] really embraced that situation and I’m going to miss those guys over there.”

The deal between last-place teams gives the Mariners a power hitter and the Indians a little more depth in the farm system.