AA St. Paul Saints

Saints sign ex-Twin Brian Buchanan

Published on June 23, 2006 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints today added the sort of experience that is nearly impossible to find. The American Association team announced today OF Brian Buchanan, who has six years experience in the major leagues (including three with the Minnesota Twins) has signed a contract with the team.

The 32-year old Floridian will be in uniform tonight at Midway Stadium when the Saints host Sioux City in the opening game of a seven-game homestand.

In addition, the team announced 1B Brian Becker is leaving the team to play in Taiwan and OF Mike Forbes has been released.

"We're very excited to have Brian join us," said St. Paul manager George Tsamis. "This is a guy who has been playing at the AAA and the major league level for most of the past decade. He is a guy who will lead by example."

Buchanan was originally a first round draft choice of the New York Yankees in 1994. He was traded to the Twins as part of the Chick Knoblauch deal in 1998. He made it to the big club two years later, hitting .274 in 69 games in 2001. He was traded to San Diego for current Minnesota SS Jason Bartlett in July, 2002. After playing 201 games for the Padres, he moved to the New York Mets system. Earlier this year, he played 24 games for AAA Louisville. He has a career BA of .258 in 346 big league games and a.283 mark in 815 minor league games.

Becker, who signed with the Saints in the off-season, batted .297 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 39 games. Forbes joined the club slightly over a year ago after being released by Winnipeg. He hit .284 in 68 games last season here but struggled this year, posting just a .185 mark in 81 at-bats.

St. Paul has a 22-16 record and trails North Division leader Lincoln by four games with 10 to play in the first half race. "We finish the first half at Lincoln," Tsamis noted. "If we can get within three games of them when we get there, we feel we have a shot at them. Even if that doesn't happen, we have a guy who has a history of producing big hits (206 career doubles, 136 career home runs) who can help us the rest of the season."

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