If Cleveland's willing to trade Martinez, Boston's a likely suitor

• As about 50 e-mailers pointed out, Russell Branyan should have been on my list of best free-agent signings. For $1.4 million, he's been a true bargain. He also became the first to hit the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar in center field at new Yankee Stadium, doing so with is 20th home run in Seattle's 8-4 victory Thursday night.

• I am naming the Yankees as the early favorite for Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban pitching prodigy who defected. Chapman is said to be the best left-handed pitching prospect in the world. He is reputedly 21, but Jack Curry in the New York Times reminded us that it was reported during the WBC that he may be 26.

• Mannywood welcomes Manny back to the Dodgers, even if the return begins in San Diego tonight. The Dodgers, 21-8 when Manny was suspended for PED use, went 29-21 in his absence. They actually increased their NL West lead to 7 1/2 without the Man-child.

• Ian Kinsler (19 HRs, 51 RBIs, .263 average) deserves to make the AL team over his old Arizona State teammate Dustin Pedroia (2, 35, .291)..

• I'll take Kevin Youkilis over Mark Teixeira. When it's that close, I favor the guy in first place.

• The tweeting continues at http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman