PEORIA, Ariz. -- From his locker in the Rangers' clubhouse, Brad Fullmer can glance to his right and imagine the RBI possibilities.
To Fullmer's immediate right are regular infielders Mark Teixeira, Hank Blalock, Alfonso Soriano and Michael Young. That nucleus quartet is the future of the Texas offense. But for the Rangers to be all they can be in 2004, some proven veteran hitters factor into what Texas hopes will be a prolific equation.
Fullmer is a fit because he has always hit. He was on pace for a big year with the Angels last season when he ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee on June 26. Anaheim ultimately went in another direction at season's end and the Rangers came calling in a hurry.
If Spring Training is any indication, Fullmer could be a key addition to the Texas attack as a designated hitter or spot position player. Through his first nine games, Fullmer was hitting .423 with six runs batted in and running like a frisky colt just turned out to pasture.
"It has been great so far," Fullmer said. "Coming over here, you don't really know how it's going to be with a club that hasn't been real successful record-wise the last few years.
"But I believe this team is close to being where it wants to be. I think they've got it heading in the right direction. There's some good young talent here and it's not that far of a stretch to think this team can get it turned around pretty quickly."
Fullmer, who has a .284 lifetime average, was hitting .306 last June through 63 games when he injured the right knee. Following an off-season of vigorous rehabilitation, the 29-year-old Fullmer has tested his knee with some aggressive baserunning in Spring Training.
"I expected the knee to get a little sore, but it hasn't," Fullmer said. "I'm not nearly as rusty as I thought I might be. I'm not perfect from pitch to pitch yet, but I'm getting to where I want to be."
Rangers' manager Buck Showalter is getting exactly what he expected from the left-handed-hitting Fullmer, who hasn't hit below .274 since bursting onto the Major League scene.
"Professional hitter, as advertised," Showalter said. "Brad doesn't waste at-bats."
Some guys have the mentality to be a designated hitter and some don't. Fullmer has shown himself to be in the former category.
"I've had success at it," Fullmer said. "I've played some first base the last couple of years, too. As long as I'm getting my name written on the lineup and getting my four at-bats, I feel like I can help the club. Some guys don't like to DH, but I just try to stay active, hit in the cage, go to the clubhouse and ride the bike. When it's time to hit, I'm ready. I've got my program down."
Fullmer was a big part of the Toronto attack in 2000 and 2001. Then came the magical 2002 season when he joined an Angels' team that rode a big wave of Disneyland momentum to a world championship. Fullmer showed himself to be a clutch player in that World Series run, hitting .373 in September and .314 after the All-Star break.
But after all the sweetness of 2002, Fullmer experienced some sour days following his knee injury in 2003. He had to sit out the final three months and there was a sting regarding how his Anaheim tenure ended.
"They had some big salaries over there," Fullmer said. "They were going to move Tim Salmon to DH, which is primarily what I had done there. So, part of me sees what went on there. But part of me was not happy with the way things went personally for me with that organization. To me, it's pretty much a respect factor. At times, I felt like that was lacking."
Fullmer is certainly getting plenty of respect in Texas.
"This team was calling from day one after I got let go by Anaheim," Fullmer said. "(General manager) John Hart and Buck called me. (Hitting coach) Rudy Jaramillo called. They really made me feel like they wanted me here. They quickly became number one in my mind."
Thus far, the Rangers' investment in Fullmer looks like a smart one. Fullmer is anxious to deliver the dividends from April to September.
"I've got my legs back under me and I'm really looking forward to this year," Fullmer said. "Whatever I can do to help this team, I'm going to give it my all."
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers added depth to two positions and a left-handed bat to the lineup by signing first baseman/designated hitter Brad Fullmer to a contract for 2004 on Wednesday.
Fullmer was released by Anaheim on Oct. 15. With the addition of Fullmer, the Rangers now have 38 players on the 40-man roster.
Fullmer, 28, played the last two seasons with Anaheim. He hit .306 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 63 games last season before rupturing the patella tendon in his right knee on June 26, which ended his season. He had surgery on July 1 and is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training. He joins Mark Teixeira, Herbert Perry, and prospects Adrian Gonzalez and Jason Jones as candidates for first base in 2004. Fullmer will likely also see extended action at designated hitter.
"We have always liked Brad," Rangers general manager John Hart said. "He is a hard-nosed player who has played on a World Champion. He is a middle-of-the-order bat and we are excited to have him."
A career .328 hitter with the bases loaded, Fullmer has hit 103 home runs in seven Major League seasons. He posted several career highs in 2000 with Toronto, hitting .295 with 76 runs, 29 doubles, 32 home runs and 104 RBIs in 133 games.
"Brad is an offensive signing to help to complete the lineup," Hart said. "This a player that fits the mold of young and tough players we have here -- young players that play with passion and energy, and Brad fits the profile."
Fullmer was acquired by Toronto in a three-way trade with Texas and Montreal that sent David Segui to Texas in March 2000.
Rangers manager Buck Showalter said Fullmer will not be limited to action against right-handed pitchers and will face left-handed pitching.
Additionally, Hart said the signing of Fullmer does not preclude the club from exploring a potential "truer" outfielder. The general manager also re-emphasized the organization's commitment to young pitching already in the organization.
"It's going to be a different year," he said. "We certainly feel we can use a guy to punch up big innings. At same time, we don't want to take away innings from the young pitchers we have. We are all very sincere about that. That doesn't mean for the right guy, and the right deal, we won't strike."
Hart did not comment on any progress or lack of progress on the highly publicized potential trade that would send Alex Rodriguez to the Red Sox for Manny Ramirez. Instead, he wanted to focus on the acquisition of Fullmer.
"We've been consistent all along and we think it has assumed a life of its own and been a runaway fire," Hart said. "Buck and I have been quoted many times as envisioning Alex returning to us. We'll leave it at that, and I don't think there is anything else to discuss."
The Angels continued their offseason clearing of roster space by releasing designated hitter Brad Fullmer on Wednesday.
In the process, they indicated strongly that they will search for a starting right fielder in the coming months.
Fullmer, 28, batted .306 with nine home runs, 35 RBIs, nine doubles and two triples in 63 games before suffering a season-ending ruptured patella tendon in his right knee while running out a ground ball June 28.
He underwent surgery to repair the knee on July 1 and has been rehabbing to get back on the field for Spring Training.
But when Fullmer was injured, regular right fielder Tim Salmon assumed most of the DH duties and Jeff DaVanon stepped up to fill in admirably as an outfield reserve.
It's unclear that the Angels view DaVanon as a starter for 2004, but general manager Bill Stoneman on Wednesday said it's a possibility.
"In looking forward, Salmon DH'd more this year and probably will more in '04 than he did in '03," Stoneman said. "We made room to get DaVanon in the outfield a little bit."
Or someone else.
Stoneman, who said in early September that the Angels would pursue a starting pitcher in the offseason, has expanded his wish list to include an outfielder, among other possible positions.
"We will be talking to pitchers, outfielders and maybe others," Stoneman said.
"We're going to be actively talking to the free-agent guys and also be looking on Dec. 21 at who didn't get offered contracts by their clubs. There are going to be a lot of guys we're looking at. How it will turn out, it's going to take time to find out."
What appears to be certain is that Fullmer, a popular player in the clubhouse, will not play for the Angels next year.
Stoneman said that might be the best thing for both parties.
"I know when [manager] Mike [Scioscia] didn't play him against some left-handers, Brad said he wanted to play more," Stoneman said.
"That's what players do. They get paid to play and they want to play. Looking forward to next season, assuming he's back and healthy, it appeared likely that he would get fewer opportunities. I'm sure he's going to want to find a full-time job and maximize his opportunities to get at-bats."
Last year, after Fullmer batted .289 with 19 homers and helped the Angels to their first World Series title, the Angels non-tendered him in December to avoid salary arbitration, then signed him for $1 million a year after he made $3.75 million.
Fullmer is eligible for arbitration again, a big reason why Stoneman decided to let him go.
"What it does is opens up a roster spot for us earlier," Stoneman said. "From Brad's standpoint, it allows him to shop the 29 clubs much earlier than he did last year."
If the Angels decide they want Fullmer again, they'll be forced to sign him to a minor league contract because, by rules, Fullmer would not be allowed to sign a Major League deal with the Angels until May.
Stoneman said the injury had little, if anything, to do with Fullmer's release.
"You've always got a question, but according to the doctors and trainers, he's right on schedule for his recovery, and the schedule would have him ready for right around Spring Training," Stoneman said.
"And he was in the clubhouse recently, looking good and feeling good."
Jan 9 2003- Angels, Fullmer agree to
deal
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
The following article was in a 2000 issue of Playball magazine.
Blue Jays Profile
Brad Fullmer
The three-way deal the Blue Jays worked out with
Montreal and Texas prior to the start of this season has been a big plus.
Brad Fullmer has
come over from the Expos and filled the designated
hitter's role effectively- and with power.
By Mike Rutsey
To say that Brad Fullmer is
intense is sort of like saying it's a bit chilly at the North Pole.
When the Jays
designated hitter has a bat in his hand and is on his way to the batter's
box, mayhem is on his mind.
Bats are never
far from his reach and rarely can he be viewed walking around the clubhouse
without one or two cradled in his meaty paws.
Hitting
is his thing.
With
the Jays that's his only thing and to the 25-year-old native of California,
that's just fine.
"Everybody's personality is different and that (being intense) is just
me," Fullmer said. "I'm always going to be that way.
"I take this seriously. I mean you have to enjoy yourself and enjoy
what you do. But I'm not happy when things aren't going well and
if I'm not playing well and were not playing well and winning games.
There's no time to be happy about it and say let's go get 'em tomorrow.
I like to get after it, do my job and do it well.
"I've always been this way. It's my personality and that's how it's
going to be."
As long as Fullmer keeps hitting like he has, the Jays figure he can
sleep with his bats and be as intense as he wants for all they care.
Through the end of July, Fullmer had banged out 22 home runs and driven
in 67 runs.
The home run total already has well surpassed his previous high of 13,
achieved in '98 when he totalled 505 at-bats. That year he also finished
the Expos' season with 73 RBI.
It was a gamble for Jays' GM Gord Ash to bring Fullmer to Toronto and
Ash accomplished it through a three-way trade with the Expos and the Rangers.
Leaving Toronto and heading to Texas was veteran DH/1B David Segui while
heading to Montreal was veteran first baseman Lee Stevens.
Fullmer, of course, came to Toronto from Montreal. A first baseman
by trade, Fullmer came to the Jays to be their designated hitter against
right-handed pitching.
Switching from being an everyday player to a DH is a difficult transition,
particularily by a player as youthful as Fullmer. But he's
taken to it like a duck to water and had no problem adjusting to the part-time
role.
"I've got to say I enjoy it," Fullmer said of his role. "Hitting
is the strength of my game, obviously.
"I don't mind playing on the field and I still get my work in. But
the bottom line is hitting is what I do best and I enjoy just concentrating
on my strength. I'm having my best year in part because of that
because I'm just concentrating on my hitting.
"I have no problem with DHing. I'm active. I keep moving
around in the game- ride the bike, hit off the tee, watch the video.
I don't just sit there. I think if you just sit around you might
have some trouble doing it. But I like to stay active and get a
good sweat going and stay loose."
It's worked wonders for Fullmer as he really hasn't fallen into any prolonged
slumps and with the exception of Carlos Delgado, has been the Jays' most
consistent hitter to date. He credits that consistency to his hard
work ethic.
"I get
a lot of work in and do a lot of extra hitting and watch a lot of tape,"
Fullmer said. "There's always going to be times when you're not
feeling good at the plate and you're not as consistent as you like.
"It's
a long season and I just want to hit the ball hard every day and drive
in runs. That's it. "I think it's easier to stay consistent
and hit well with a good lineup and this is the best lineup I've ever played
in."
To date,
he's been a big reason for the teams overall offensive success.
He figures
on being for a long time.
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