Brady Anderson agrees to minor league deal with Padres

Friday December 06, 2002

By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) Free agent outfielder Brady Anderson thinks he can revive his career with the San Diego Padres, and was willing to take a minor league contract to prove it.

Anderson, who graduated from Carlsbad High in northern San Diego County in 1982, agreed Friday to a deal that includes an invitation to spring training with the big league club.

``I think it's great,'' said Anderson, who's spent his entire career in the AL, with Boston, Baltimore and Cleveland. ``Guys have said that once you play in San Diego, you don't want to leave.''

The 38-year-old outfielder, who hit 50 home runs for Baltimore in 1996, was released by the Cleveland Indians on May 21 after starting the season batting just .163.

``I got off to a rough start, and right after that the team went into a rebuilding phase,'' Anderson said.

He said he had offers from other clubs after being released, but hurt his Achilles' tendon while working out and stayed out of baseball.

``I enjoyed the break, to be honest,'' Anderson said.

``For me to perform at my best, I have to immerse myself in baseball, and I might have burned out a little bit,'' he said. ``Sometimes I've cared too much. When you struggle and you care too much, it can be a mental strain.''

Anderson had just one homer and five RBIs in 34 games for the Indians, whom he joined as a free agent last winter after spending 14 seasons with Baltimore.

Anderson thinks he can get his hitting stroke back, and said he's been taking batting practice for a month. He hits in a cage when he's at his offseason home in Lake Tahoe, and works out at UC Irvine when he's in Southern California.

``This is the first time in a long time that I've hit in the offseason,'' he said.

Anderson, who can play all three outfield positions, will make approximately $500,000 if he makes the team.

``He's going to have to go to spring training and win a job, and he knows that,'' said Anderson's agent, Jeff Borris.

General manager Kevin Towers couldn't be reached for comment.

Going into spring training, the Padres have Mark Kotsay in center field, Phil Nevin in right and either Bubba Trammell or Ron Gant if he's offered arbitration in left.

Nevin, who's once again vacating third base for Sean Burroughs, invoked his no-trade clause last weekend and killed a proposed trade with Cincinnati for Ken Griffey Jr.

Anderson made his big league debut with Boston in 1988 and was traded to Baltimore later that season along with Curt Schilling for Mike Boddicker. He was with the Orioles through 2001, when he hit just .202.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)