2/19 05:52: According to Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune, the Tampa Bay Rays have made an offer to free agent Russell Branyan. However, Cleveland may be more appealing to Branyan since he could get more playing time there.

2/18 09:21: According to Peter Gammons of MLB.com, he tweets, “The Rays are seriously fighting the Indians for Russell Branyan.”

2/16 23:20: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Red Sox are out of the Branyan race. It’s going to come down to the Indians and Tampa Bay Rays, but the Indians are the favorites.

2/16 14:02: According to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, the deal is for a Major League contract.

2/16 09:27: Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com says that the Cleveland Indians have an offer on the table to Branyan. It is not clear if it’s a Major League guarantee or a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. The Indians are seeking an insurance option at first base since Matt LaPorta wis coming off surgers on his left hip and left big toe.

2/15 21:14: According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, free agent Russell Branyan is talking with several clubs, but is furthest along with the Cleveland Indians.

The Indians could offer Branyan more playing time than either the Tampa Bay Rays or Boston Red Sox, who also are interested in Branyan. The Red Sox may have problems opening a roster spot for Branyan, but if they could trade away Mike Lowell, Branyan could provide the Sox injury protection to cover multiple positions.

Branyan gives his next team position flexibility since he could play first base, third base and both corner outfield positions.

Branyan, 34, hit .251 with 31 home runs and 76 RBIs in a shortened 2009 season.  He played in 116 games but none after August 29.  He was diagnosed with a herniated disk that sidelined him throughout the month of September. You can see Branyan’s contract history and statistics here.