Indians Sign Austin Kearns - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

edabbs44 · 01-05-2010, 12:11 PM

Sticky, please?

from mlbtr.com

Quote:

Indians Sign Austin Kearns
By Tim Dierkes [January 5 at 10:35am CST]
The Indians signed outfielder Austin Kearns to a minor league deal, according to a team press release.

Kearns, 30 in May, hit .195/.336/.305 in 211 plate appearances for the Nationals this year, logging 363 innings in right field. He had thumb surgery in August, ending his season. The Nats predictably declined Kearns' $10MM club option after the season, finishing a three-year, $17.5MM extension given by Jim Bowden in January of '07. Bowden's July '06 acquisition of Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Wagner from the Reds for Bill Bray, Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris, Gary Majewski, and Daryl Thompson was seen as a masterstroke at the time.

Kearns has been lousy offensively the last two years, though his right field defense remains a plus. It's a decent no-risk pickup for the Tribe, who also added Shelley Duncan yesterday.

reds1869 · 01-05-2010, 12:13 PM

"Kearns, 30 in May, hit .195/.336/.305 in 211 plate appearances for the Nationals this year, logging 363 innings in right field."

My goodness, those are some putrid numbers. It is really quite sad to see the downward trajectory his career took.

OnBaseMachine · 01-05-2010, 12:19 PM

Nice signing by the Indians, IMO. I said a few days ago that I'd like to see the Reds sign Kearns to a minor league deal.

nate · 01-05-2010, 12:24 PM

Yeah...not bad. The talent is still there...just a matter of putting it all together.

dfs · 01-05-2010, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate

Yeah...not bad. The talent is still there...just a matter of putting it all together.

everybody cross your fingers for Jay Bruce.

Joseph · 01-05-2010, 12:37 PM

I figured he'd go to the Cubs.

flyer85 · 01-05-2010, 01:02 PM

rarely see an OBP 30 points higher than a SLG%

Spring~Fields · 01-05-2010, 01:04 PM

Who's better Nix, Tevaras, Burke or Kearns if you were to sign one to a minor league contract?

BRM · 01-05-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring~Fields

Who's better Nix, Tevaras, Burke or Kearns if you were to sign one to a minor league contract?

Based on last years numbers, I'd say Nix.

Spring~Fields · 01-05-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRM

Based on last years numbers, I'd say Nix.

Look's like you have done your homework.

Code:

Laynce Nix 				Austin Kearns 
2009 Cin .239 .291 .476 .767		2009 .195 .336 .305 .641
2008 Mil .083 .154 .083 .237 		2008 .217 .311 .316 .627

2009					2009			
vs. Left .156 .206 .250 .456 		vs. Left .122 .348 .204 .552 
vs. Right .249 .300 .502 .802		vs. Right .224 .331 .344 .675

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRM

Nix slugged very well against righties last year, evidenced by his .502 SLG% against them. But the guy is and always has been an out machine. .300 OBP against RHP and a .291 OBP overall in the best season of his career. Nice guy to have on your bench for sure but you have to know what you are getting if he's the LF platoon partner, meaning 400 plate appearances. You'll get good slugging and a very low OBP. This team could use more OBP, not less.

traderumor · 01-05-2010, 01:48 PM

Whether it be a shoulder, a thumb, laziness, or whatever, Austin Kearns rode a hot start at a young age and a lot of hype to a lot of money to underperform for the next six years. Perhaps he is a better businessman than player.

nate · 01-05-2010, 03:12 PM

I'm with BRM. Nix is a nice defender out there in addition to his pop.

I wonder why Kearns can't find a "being sat on by Ray King" support group and get his offensive game going again?

BRM · 01-05-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring~Fields

Look's like you have done your homework.

Not sure why you put my quote from another thread in there. Sure, Kearns had a better OBP than Nix last year but he was horrible in the SLG department. Add in the fact that Nix can play all over the OF, and play it well, and he's a better option for a minor league contract. I still don't know if I want him as the main part of a LF platoon but he's a nice 5th outfielder. That said, I wouldn't have cared if Kearns had been signed to a minor league deal either. It's all dumpster diving at the end of the day anyway.

Blitz Dorsey · 01-06-2010, 06:58 PM

It is amazing the amount of money Austin Kearns earned for being a bad baseball player ... he's fortunate Jim Bowden is not very bright.

How long did the Nats discuss whether or not to pick up Kearns' $10 million option this year? A half-second? A millisecond? Lol.

TheNext44 · 01-06-2010, 08:24 PM

I wonder how long before Dunn demands a trade to the Indians?

01-05-2010, 12:13 PM	#2
reds1869 We Need Our Myths Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Overlooking GABP Posts: 4,163	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns "Kearns, 30 in May, hit .195/.336/.305 in 211 plate appearances for the Nationals this year, logging 363 innings in right field." My goodness, those are some putrid numbers. It is really quite sad to see the downward trajectory his career took.

01-05-2010, 12:19 PM	#3
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,662	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns Nice signing by the Indians, IMO. I said a few days ago that I'd like to see the Reds sign Kearns to a minor league deal.

01-05-2010, 12:24 PM	#4
nate High five! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,776	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns Yeah...not bad. The talent is still there...just a matter of putting it all together. __________________ "Bring on Rod Stupid!"

01-05-2010, 12:37 PM	#6
Joseph Tired of talk. Win! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,127	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns I figured he'd go to the Cubs. __________________ Championships for MY teams in my lifetime: Cincinnati Reds - 75, 76, 90 Chicago Blackhawks - 10 University of Kentucky - 78, 96, 98, 12 Cincinnati Bengals - None Chicago Bulls - 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98

01-05-2010, 01:02 PM	#7
flyer85 He has the Evil Eye! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: south of the border Posts: 23,858	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns rarely see an OBP 30 points higher than a SLG% __________________ What are you, people? On dope? - Mr Hand

01-05-2010, 01:04 PM	#8
Spring~Fields Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 8,630	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns Who's better Nix, Tevaras, Burke or Kearns if you were to sign one to a minor league contract? Last edited by Spring~Fields; 01-05-2010 at 01:08 PM.

01-05-2010, 01:48 PM	#11
traderumor Unsolicited Opinions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Right Down Broadway Posts: 17,668	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns Whether it be a shoulder, a thumb, laziness, or whatever, Austin Kearns rode a hot start at a young age and a lot of hype to a lot of money to underperform for the next six years. Perhaps he is a better businessman than player. __________________ Can't win with 'em Can't win without 'em

01-05-2010, 03:12 PM	#12
nate High five! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,776	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns I'm with BRM. Nix is a nice defender out there in addition to his pop. I wonder why Kearns can't find a "being sat on by Ray King" support group and get his offensive game going again? __________________ "Bring on Rod Stupid!"

01-06-2010, 06:58 PM	#14
Blitz Dorsey Party like it's 1990 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,328	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns It is amazing the amount of money Austin Kearns earned for being a bad baseball player ... he's fortunate Jim Bowden is not very bright. How long did the Nats discuss whether or not to pick up Kearns' $10 million option this year? A half-second? A millisecond? Lol.

01-06-2010, 08:24 PM	#15
TheNext44 Socratic Gadfly Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,224	Re: Indians Sign Austin Kearns I wonder how long before Dunn demands a trade to the Indians? __________________ "Imagination is more important than knowledge." -- Albert Einstein

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