Bill Batterman is the It wasn’t a blockbuster deal intended to propel Milwaukee into the playoffs, but the Brewers acquired 28-year old slugger Russell Branyan from the Cleveland Indians on Monday and purchased his contract from Triple-A Buffalo. The Indians received future cash considerations in exchange for Branyan, who did not fit into their long-term plans.
The Warner Robbins Georgia-native had been pummelling International League pitchers for the first-place Bisons, his second stop of 2004. After beginning the season with the Richmond Braves, Branyan was traded after only eleven games for a player to be named later. In 93 combined games, he batted .279 with a .382 on-base average, .566 slugging average, and 26 home runs (good for second in the league) and 79 RBI (ranked first).