Indians' manager Charlie Manuel suggested in 2002 that Branyan could benefit from more playing time, but he was traded to the Reds for prospect Ben Broussard during the season.

Excited to have a "clean slate," as he put it, Branyan hit 16 home runs with the Reds in 2002 but struggled with injuries in the 2003 campaign.

Allowed to become a free agent, he spent 2004 in the minor leagues for the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland before Milwaukee picked him up on July 26.

Branyan signed with the Devil Rays in 2006 and spent most of the year on their roster, but he expressed concern at the fact that he was not an everyday player with Tampa Bay.

Traded to the Padres in August, he hit what was at the time the longest home run in Petco Park history, measured at 453 feet.

He attributed them to his most successful year in the major leagues thus far, when he hit a career-high 31 home runs while serving as an everyday player much of the season.

[7][8] In 1997, with both the Class-A Advanced Kinston Indians and the Double-A Akron Aeros, he led all minor league baseball in home runs with 39.

In 2002, manager Charlie Manuel wanted Branyan to succeed Fryman full-time, though he was primarily used as a utility player throughout the season.

[18][19] Branyan called the trade to Cincinnati "a clean slate" stating he had been branded as a home run or strikeout player in Cleveland.

[20] He improved his numbers after the trade, but they still remained poor as he played left field opposed to his normal position at third base that was occupied by Aaron Boone.

[21] On August 4, 2002, Branyan hit three home runs, two off Bobby J. Jones and one off Mike Holtz as the Reds beat the San Diego Padres.

[25] At season's end, Branyan played winter ball in the Dominican Republic where on November 18, he injured his shoulder.

Branyan, who was in the dugout, had to be restrained by teammates after a verbal altercation with Cubs first baseman Eric Karros during the fight between the two pitchers.

[33] On January 21, 2004 Branyan signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Atlanta Braves.

[53] He was re-signed by the Brewers on December 20, 2005[54] but after they acquired third baseman Corey Koskie from the Toronto Blue Jays, Branyan was designated for assignment.

[60] He failed to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, and was sent to the Devil Rays' Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls.

He did not play in a game for the Bulls, however, as he was called up to Tampa Bay due to an injury to Luis Ordaz on Opening Day.

[1] On August 24, 2006, Branyan was traded to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitchers Evan Meek and Dale Thayer.

To join a team that's in contention this late in the season, it will be real exciting.Branyan hit two home runs on August 29 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

[76][77] He was activated on May 3 and the Padres sent Pete Laforest outright to the Triple-A Portland Beavers to make room for Branyan on the roster.

In a combined 89 games between San Diego, Philadelphia, and St. Louis, his totals were a .196 batting average, 10 home runs, and 26 RBI.

[91] About the call-up, Branyan said, I know how this game is, I know I could have come up and landed flat on my face, then been back in the situation I've always been in, sitting on the bench and wondering when I'm going to play again.

I'm fortunate to have been able to come up swinging the bat well in Triple-A and continue it here.Branyan began the season playing a platoon role with teammate Bill Hall.

[97] On May 31, shortly after his return to the majors, he hit a 465-foot home run into the "Dew Deck" in the right-field bleachers of the stadium, helping the Brewers to a 4–1 win.

Branyan stated one of the keys to his success with the Mariners was a vision training program with Chicago ophthalmologist Dr. Barry Seiller.

[114] Branyan also stated that he still wanted to return to Seattle, but would rather test the free agent market than settle for anything less than a two-year contract.

[127] The next day, he became the first batter at the new Yankee Stadium to hit a home run into the fourth-deck with a first-inning blast against Vázquez in a 9–5 Mariner loss.

At some point, Russell Branyan, who was driving, allegedly put his hand on Jill's face, causing her to have a cut lip.

[143][144] Branyan entered a "not guilty" plea in Shaker Heights Municipal Court on February 5, 2008, charged with one count of domestic violence.

Branyan allegedly removed several items and "tampered with the thermostat inside of the home, making it extremely cold," before leaving the property.