Branyan signs Minor League deal

01/31/2006
ST. PETERSBURG -- Third baseman Russell Branyan agreed to terms with the Devil Rays on Tuesday on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Branyan, 30, has hit 93 career Major League home runs in parts of seven seasons with the Indians, Reds and Brewers. In addition, he has hit 198 Minor League home runs. The flip side of the equation comes in the 597 strikeouts he has accrued in 1,464 Major-League at-bats.
The promise of power and Branyan's versatility -- in addition to third base, he can play left field, right field, first base, DH and serve as a left-handed-hitting pinch-hitter -- made him attractive to the Rays, who lack power at the corner infield positions that are occupied by Sean Burroughs and Travis Lee (who combined for 13 home runs in 2005).
Branyan's best season was in 2002, when he set career highs in games played (134), home runs (24) and RBIs (56) for the Indians and Reds. He was originally the Indians' seventh-round selection in the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.
Branyan hit .257 with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs for the Brewers in 2005. The Brewers released him after acquiring Corey Koskie from the Blue Jays.

Source: http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/