CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cleveland Indians have signed free agent
outfielder Austin Kearns to a minor league contract.
Kearns, who has played with Cincinnati and Washington, had his
2009 season with the Nationals cut short by an injury to his right
thumb. The 29-year-old batted .195 with three homers and 17 RBIs in
80 games.
Kearns, who played in Washington for new Indians manager Manny
Acta, has a career .256 average with 105 homers in 542 games.
He had his best season in 2006, when he batted a combined .254
with 24 homers and 86 RBIs in 150 games for the Reds and Nationals.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
