Russell Branyan has signed a Minor League contract with the Cleveland Indians.

Branyan has been assigned to Triple-A Columbus.

He has spent the 2014 season with los Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League and has slashed a robust .296/.423/.620 with 19 home runs in 272 plate appearances.

The Baltimore Orioles and Nelson Cruz have enjoyed a successful partnership that may lead to a contract extension.

The Orioles signed Cruz to a one-year deal late in the offseason.

"While there's no definitive immediate word of any early negotiations between Cruz and the Orioles, both sides have expressed an interest in continuing the marriage, if possible," writes Jon Heyman.

Cruz currently leads the American League with 34 home runs.

"It's no secret it's been a very positive experience for Nelson and the Orioles -- though I don't want to speak for them," Cruz's agent Adam Katz said. "He's enjoyed every minute of it."

The Arizona Diamondbacks have claimed Nolan Reimold off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Reimold, 30, was designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles in early July after spending the entire season on the disabled list. The Blue Jays claimed him and he hit just .212/.283/.404 in 60 plate appearances.

Victor Martinez, 35, doesn't see himself playing by age 40, but he does want to remain active for a "few more years."

The Detroit Tigers want to re-sign Martinez, but he'll likely receive multiple offers on the open market this winter.

He has hit a career-high 26 home runs this season.

Bud Selig hasn't denied that the Houston Astros may still be able to sign No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken.

The two sides weren't able to reach a deal before the July 18th deadline. An extension may have been granted amid reports of a possible grievance filed by Aiken's camp.

"We're working on that right now," Selig said while at Petco Park on Tuesday. "There are a lot of things in movement there so it would be inappropriate for me to comment, but I would say we are working towards a hopeful solution."

The New York Yankees will sign Chris Young to a Minor League contract.

Young began the season with the New York Mets after signing a one-year, $7.25 million contract.

The 30-year-old hit .205/.283/.346 in 287 plate appearances with the Mets before being designated for assignment and ultimately released earlier this month.

The Miami Marlins are making a push for one of the two Wild Card spots in the National League, but Giancarlo Stanton isn't ready to commit to the club long-term.

Miami is playing .500 baseball after losing 100 games last season.

"Five months," Stanton said, "doesn't change five years."

Stanton, 24, can become a free agent in two years and the Marlins have the lowest payroll in the National League. There have already been rumors that he'll be traded before his arbitration cost becomes too much for owner Jeffrey Loria.

"We've definitely done better than anyone thought we would do," Stanton said. "At the same time, we're still not where we need to be to keep playing beyond the designed schedule. …I want to be the only game on TV at the end of the day.

"We're definitely in a positive direction. But we have a month to go to make the playoffs."

After assessing the August trade market, Dave Dombrowski says that if the Detroit Tigers are going to improve their offense it will be from within.

"Our guys have to hit better," Dombrowski said. "You can't keep going and getting players all the time. After a point, they've got to hit. They've got to do what they need to do.

"It's hard to score runs right now. We've faced some good pitching, but sometimes your other guys have to rise to the occasion too."

Rusney Castillo will undergo a physical on Saturday with the Boston Red Sox, presumably making his $72 million contract official.

Castillo is believed to be receiving $500,000 for the remainder of the 2014 season, the first in his seven-year, $72.5 million pact.

Rob Bradford of WEEI reports that Castillo's contract includes a limited no-trade clause.

Ken Rosenthal reports that the contract will be heavily backloaded. By structuring the contract as a seven-year deal, however, the Red Sox will gain a break on luxury tax implications.

The New York Mets are looking for a shortstop and are hoping that they may find an answer in Roberto Carlos, according to sources.

Carlos, 28, left the Cuban national team in Mexico in November 2012.

A switch hitter, he departed the United States last year after a stint playing independent baseball and settled in the Dominican Republic.

He played under the name Roberto Carlos Ramirez with the Cuban national team.

A source familiar with the player said Carlos may have "slipped through the baseball cracks" because he didn't have representation after defecting from Cuba.