In addition to Duncan, the Tribe also signed a more notable free agent in former Reds and Nationals slugger Austin Kearns. See Indians press release below:
The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed OF AUSTIN KEARNS to a free agent minor league contract. The contract includes a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training camp.
Kearns, 29, owns a Major League career batting average of .256 (737-2879) with 155 doubles, 105 home runs, 422 RBI, 385 walks and a career on-base % of .353 in 542 games with the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals since 2002. The Lexington, KY native was the 7th overall pick of the Reds in 1998. His 2009 season with Washington was cut short due to a right thumb injury in August, appearing in 80 games for the Nationals prior to the injury (.195, 34-174, 3HR, 17RBI, 32BB, .336 on-base %). His best season came in 2006 between the Reds and Nationals where he hit a combined .254 (142-537) with 33 2B, 24HR & 86RBI in 150 games (.363OB %).
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Remember when the Tribe was up and coming and attracted free agents like Eddie Murray, Dennis Martinez, and Orel Herschizer? Well fans, those days are long gone and will continue to be so for a long time to come as the once powerful and mighty Tribe organization now must succumb to the inevitable pressures of small market baseball. The Indians will now join Kansas City, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Baltimore, Florida, Detroit, San Francisco, Colorado, Atlanta, and Oakland as second class organizations whose talent continues to be siphoned off to Boston, New York, LA, and California in an unstoppable stream. Now the Tribe as to take players, like Austin Kearns, off the discard pile, while the Sabathias, Martinezes, and Lees get the lucrative deals that only the first class organizations, who have dominated the off season news with trades and signings, can afford.
With the disclaimer that I hope it’s not another $ 1 mill/Brady Anderson type moron move, why not bring Kearns in? He definitely has lost it but is young enough to rediscover it. Even if it’s a wash I’m not going to cry over losing Ben Francisco.
Shelley Duncan is the more intriguing signing to me. He may never fare well vs. RH but I think he could step right in and provide much needed pop vs. southpaws. He can also play 3 spots.
BTL