The Cleveland Indians, looking to add a little depth behind prospect Matt LaPorta, have made an offer to free agent 1B Russell Branyan:
Indians Make Offer To Russell Branyan
Looking for depth at the corner infield and outfield spots, the Indians have an offer on the table to free agent Russell Branyan. It is a Major League contract believed to be for one year, though the financial specifics were not available.
Branyan, who was drafted by the Indians in 1994 and with the organization until 2002, had a big year in 2009, slugging 31 home runs for the Mariners while posting an OPS of .867. However, a back injury brought a premature end to his season and dropped his desirability in an already depressed market, leaving him jobless into the middle of February. Cleveland, Tampa Bay, and Boston are among the teams to have expressed serious interest in Branyan's services, but the Indians are the only suitors known to have made an offer.
Though Branyan was initially open to re-signing with Seattle, he priced himself out of their market, as the organization was uneasy about the prospect of having a player in Branyan’s physical condition play the field. It will be interesting, then, to see if his next employer has him play much defense, and - if so - how well he holds up. Branyan has played first base, third base, and the outfield over the course of his career, but depending on the state of his back, versatility may no longer be one of his strengths.
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