Let’s take a step back and reassess…

Jim Street, Larry LaRue and Larry Stone have all hit on this, bringing different quotes and details to the table.  Check those out.

Okay, so here is the gist:

• The Seattle Mariners offered Russell Branyan a one year deal with an option for 2011.  Branyan turned it down because the dollar amount was lower than he was hoping for and he’s determined to get at least two guaranteed years.
• Branyan has played his entire career on one year contracts and is understandably sick of it.  He had the best year of his career, and he thinks it should buy him some security.
• Despite turning down the offer, Branyan is still optimistic about getting something done with Seattle.
• Branyan says he’s very happy in Seattle and wants to finish out his career with the Mariners.

Stone added the info about the option, which was a surprise to me.  I would assume it’s a straight team option. When news broke that Branyan declined Seattle’s one year offer, my immediate thought was that the Mariners should just tack on an option year to appease him.  I guess they’re two steps ahead of me.

So now what?  Can Branyan command two guaranteed years on the open market?  Like Branyan, guys like Nick Johnson and Carlos Delgado are also up there in age and have injury issues of their own, but they have the track record Branyan lacks.  With those two, as well as several other solid 1B/DH types on the market, will a team be willing to take a risk on Branyan?

I have a hard time seeing it, but much crazier things have happened.  I love Branyan, but I don’t particularly want Seattle to go two guaranteed years on him, especially if he’s asking for $5-7M per or more.  With the alternative options out there it just isn’t worth it.

Branyan isn’t settling for anything less than two guaranteed years until he’s sure it’s not possible, so unless the Mariners give in we’re probably going to see Branyan hit the open market on November 20th.  Maybe he still ends up a Mariner, but I think the best the M’s can do is offer one year guaranteed with a vesting option for 2011 based on plate appearances or something.

Can Johnson and Delgado even get two guaranteed years?  Am I misreading the market?