Texas Rangers acquire 1B Broussard from Mariners

Texas Rangers acquire 1B Broussard from Mariners

By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com

On the hockey plus/minus scale used by one of Tom Hicks' other teams, Wednesday might go down as a "zero" for the Rangers.

They added the first baseman they most desired since the end of the season, but very possibly lost reliever Akinori Otsuka for good. In the waning moments before arbitration-eligible players had to be tendered qualifying contracts or granted free agency, the Rangers dealt minor league infielder Tug Hulett to Seattle for first baseman Ben Broussard.

Minutes later, the club announced it had decided against tendering a contract to Otsuka, who is free to negotiate with all clubs. General manager Jon Daniels acknowledged he was "not optimistic" about having Otsuka on the roster for 2008. Otsuka did not pitch after July 1 because of elbow problems.

"We just weren't comfortable not having seen him on the mound for several months," Daniels said. "We talked about a shared risk deal, but the financial information we got just didn't make much sense. All the reports [about Otsuka's health] have been positive, but the bottom line is he hasn't thrown for a number of months, and there was real concern."

Otsuka, who performed admirably as the closer in 2006, is the third reliever lost by the Rangers in the last three days. Eric Gagne signed with Milwaukee earlier in the week, and LaTroy Hawkins agreed with the New York Yankees. The turn of events likely leaves C.J. Wilson as the closer. The only free agent still on the market with significant closing experience is Eddie Guardado.

It's also unlikely that right-hander Kazuo Fukumori, who was in Arlington on Wednesday to receive a physical exam, would take over as closer. Fukumori, 31, is expected to receive a two-year contract, perhaps as early as Friday, but his role in Japan for most of the last decade was as a setup man.

The news about the bullpen certainly didn't jive with Daniels' desire to add multiple veteran arms to the relief corps this winter, but he did seem to solve his first base dilemma by acquiring the guy they had coveted.

With Seattle facing an 11 p.m. (CST) deadline to either tender Broussard a qualifying contract or trade him, the Mariners decided to get something for him rather than make him a free agent by not offering a contract.

Broussard, 31, is a Beaumont, Texas native who appeared in 99 games for Seattle last year. He hit .275 with nine homers, 29 RBIs and had a .734 OPS.

Broussard, a left-handed hitter, is expected to become the Rangers' primary first baseman. Chris Shelton, acquired from Detroit last week, will likely play primarily against left-handed pitching. Broussard has a career .227 on-base percentage vs. lefties; it is .336 vs. right-handers.
Ben Broussard played the last 1½ seasons with Seattle.
AP
Ben Broussard played the last 1½ seasons with Seattle.

To make room for Broussard on the roster, the Rangers designated outfielder Nick Gorneault for assignment. Gorneault, 27, had been acquired on a waiver claim from the Los Angeles Angels last month.

The decision to make Otsuka a free agent also freed up a roster spot, which will go to outfielder Milton Bradley, who passed a physical to finalize his one-year contract. Bradley will receive $5 million in guaranteed money.

Doctors assured the Rangers that Bradley's torn knee ligaments were healing fine. The Rangers hope to have him in some capacity in April

"He may start out at DH and play some other outfield positions, but I think you'll also see him play center field, too," Daniels said.

Looks like they won't be signing Sean Casey...