Brantley savors ‘new start’
Indians mainstay for 10 years fills hole in LF but is willing to take stab at 1B
Michael Brantley’s allure to the Astros was not rooted in a single facet of his arsenal. The team enjoys both his low strikeout and swingand-miss rates. His established lefthanded swing will balance a righthanded laden lineup in which Brantley will hit “top five or six, certainly,” according to his new manager.
The 31-year-old can proficiently patrol the one uncertain defensive position (left field) on Houston’s roster. If Wednesday’s introductory news conference was any indication, Brantley is open to experimenting at another (first base) where he’s never played an inning during his 10-year major league career.
“We like everything about Michael’s game, we’ve been watching it for years,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said.
“We don’t go after players just because they have a particular attribute, we go after the whole player. This is a player that really knows how to play the outfield, will be a leader in the clubhouse.”
Luhnow made official “one of our highest priority moves that we were seeking to do all offseason,” announcing a two-year deal that, according to a person familiar with the terms, will pay Brantley $15 million per season.
The contract contains a $2 million signing bonus and numerous performance-based incentives, among them $75,000 for an All-Star selection.
Moving for first time
Brantley departs Cleveland, where he’s spent his entire career.
“It’s a new journey; it’s a new start,” said Brantley, who will wear No. 23. “But I have to keep harping on the team that I’m going to is the place where I wanted to come the minute I got a chance to come here because they wanted me to be here as well. I think that’s what’s so special about the situation.”
Brantley garnered American League All-Star nods in each of his last two seasons, rebound years after playing just 11 games and undergoing two surgeries in 2016. This season, after hitting .309 and supplying an .832 OPS to the American League Central champion Indians, he was tabbed AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Renowned for a simple lefthanded swing which hardly misses contact, Brantley has the fifth-lowest strikeout rate among major leaguers across the last five seasons. Last season, he was one of just three qualified hitters with a punchout rate lower than 10 percent. Manager A.J. Hinch joked his pitching staff may be more excited than his offense to add Brantley’s bat.
“We’d shift him, he’d hit it against the shift, we would un-shift him and he’d pull the ball in the hole,” Hinch said. “He’s what they call a professional hitter for a reason.”
When Brantley began his free agency, rumors surfaced of his apparent willingness to spend time at first base if a team desired.
Hinch, and the Astros as a whole, have long valued defensive versatility. Yuli Gurriel, the everyday first baseman, will move around the diamond in spring training. Aledmys Diaz was acquired in November to add infield depth, including at first base. Brantley could, too. “I’m open to doing anything,” Brantley said. “It doesn’t matter where I hit in the lineup, whatever is best for the team that day to win that game. I think it’s really important that you stay flexible. I feel like I can handle (first base) if needed, if not then whatever is asked of me is what I’m going to do.”
Hinch was quick to add, though: “if I had to draw out the lineup today, he wouldn’t be the first baseman, he would be in left field.”
Though the skipper spoke with his Brantley frequently in the last two days, Hinch reserved one untold tale for the dais Wednesday.
Advisory role
At last year’s All-Star Game in Washington, where Hinch managed the American League to an extra-inning win, he observed Brantley traverse Nationals Park. Brantley made his third All-Star appearance and was one of six Indians players to merit selection.
“Nobody knew anything about the guys across the way — National League, they weren’t familiar — but everyone went to Brantley,” Hinch said. “(Francisco) Lindor went to Brantley, (Jose) Ramirez went to Brantley, even our players went to Brantley.”
“He has a lot of fun and is really balanced. Exactly how you see him play, he’s kind of unshakeable.”