Somebody Claimed Austin Kearns ?!?!?!?!

by pas493 on Aug 14, 2009 2:46 PM EDT Comment 18 comments

With the clock ticking on the Washington Nationals' attempt to sign top pick Stephen Strasburg, the Nats appeared to have lost the chance to come up with another $3.4 million in savings they could have put toward signing him. According to a major league source, when the Nats put ineffective outfielder Austin Kearns through waivers, another club actually put in a claim for him. Kearns is due the remainder of his $8 million salary this year and a $1 million buyout of his $10 million option for 2010. Kearns is hitting .195 this year and .209 over the past two seasons.

The Nationals could simply have "awarded" Kearns to the claiming team to get out from under the contract, Alex Rios style. But just as Kearns was getting claimed, the Nationals placed him on the disabled list on Aug. 5, retroactive to Aug. 4, with a thumb injury. Once on the DL, Kearns could not be claimed, the source said. "I don't think it's the difference between signing Strasburg or not," the source said of the $3.4 million, "but it couldn't have hurt." - Tom Verducci

Who the hell claimed Austin Kearns?

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This is a huge fail if it's true.

As someone mentioned in another thread, maybe it had something to do with Kearns’ injury status? Are waiver claims all caveat emptor, or would it be another black eye for the franchise to move damaged goods that way?

"If somebody hasn't seen me, I try to leave a good impression on their mind, so they come back to enjoy this beautiful game of baseball." --Tony Plush

by Doghouse on Aug 14, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It would have been horrible to do to somebody.

When he’s back in a week, they can put him on irrevocable wavers and if somebody claims him (again) they get him for free.

by RoscoeNats on Aug 14, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree we may want to trade with the organization again

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Aug 14, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldnt wish Kearns on anyone...not even Iran.

Padilla walked into the Nats' clubhouse for the first time and said, "My God. I'm in heaven."

by Mezza on Aug 14, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not even if we were facing them in the NLCS?

Wait, or are they an AL team? I’ll bet the mullahs use the DH. Stoopid theocrats, can’t play REAL baseball…

"If somebody hasn't seen me, I try to leave a good impression on their mind, so they come back to enjoy this beautiful game of baseball." --Tony Plush

by Doghouse on Aug 14, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why would

IRAN, a foreign country, be in the AMERICAN league?

9=8

by El Rayhawk on Aug 20, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is an ok player, but very overpaid. I wonder who it would be?

I’ll bet the A’s would take him if the Nats coughed up some of the money. He is far from useless and walks alot. Frankly the Mets may have realized he is all round better than Francour. Or perhaps the Reds want him back? It would be cool. I likr the guy, but he is overpaid and we do have plenty of replacements.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Aug 14, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just have to think it would be a team who has a shot at the playoffs...otherwise, why bother?

I think maybe a late game defensive replacement for the Werth on the Fillies. No clue though.

by RoscoeNats on Aug 14, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For a second, I thought I was dreaming

Then I saw the post, noticed that everything was in the past tense, and started wondering how Mike Rizzo could justify his job candidacy if he’d pulled him back off waivers. Of course, that’s not really the case (DL changed it). I know I talk a lot of crap about Kearns, and I know that he’s not nearly as bad as I think he is. However, with his contract status, getting his contract off the books the rest of the season and not having to pay the $1 million to buy him out would have to be euphoric for anyone in the front office.

by bluelineswinger on Aug 14, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Cincinnati

He was much better in Cincinnati, possibly because of his familiarity with the area (Kentucky, southern Ohio). Others have pointed out that maybe he just needs to go back home. The Reds might think that way too. If so, then Kearns would be a much better fit for them than with the Nats.

I don’t really know if all of this is the case. Just trying to figure out who would claim Kearns off waivers.

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Washington, first in war, first in peace, last in the NL East :(

by Potomac Fan on Aug 15, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I personally think he juiced through his first year here, then he quit.

His first year here was at RFK, so his adjusted numbers compared similarly to Cincy. Then he fell off. I think WMP used to juice as well.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Aug 15, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How was he better in Cincinnati?

His last year there they gave up on him and shipped him to AAA in June of the season.

by pas493 on Aug 17, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

See below.... he was much better in Cincy. His OPS fell 160 points in 2007 and stayed down this season

Year team BA on% Slg% OPS
2002 Cin .315 .407 .500 .907
2003 Cin .264 .364 .455 .819
2004 Cin .230 .321 .419 .740
2005 Cin .240 .333 .452 .785
2006 Cin .274 .351 .492 .843
2006 Was .250 .381 .429 .810
2007 Was .266 .355 .411 .766
2008 Was .217 .311 .316 .627
2009 Was .195 .336 .305 .641
Total .256 .353 .427 .780

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Aug 17, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant 2008

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Aug 17, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kearns was playing injured for much of 08 before the elbow surgery...

…then he ended the season with the stress fracture in his foot. Bad year for the team doctors. He actually seemed to have it together at the start of this season, but he just never got it back after that first DL trip from when the beanball hit him on the hands. One more reason to hate the Fillies…

"If somebody hasn't seen me, I try to leave a good impression on their mind, so they come back to enjoy this beautiful game of baseball." --Tony Plush

by Doghouse on Aug 17, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude please look at these numbers, he was garbage in Cincy (just like he is in DC) and you just proved it. When we traded for him he was in LOUISVILLE, Cincy had given up on him and shipped there junk down the DC pipeline.

Also, how does his familarity with the area increase production on the baseball field? He’s been in DC for 4 years and I’m sure he’s pretty familar with the area but he still sucks.

by pas493 on Aug 18, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do not think mid to upper 4 slugging percentages with a league average on base skills qualify as garbage

Particularly when they player is one of the top 5 defensive Rfs in the game (top 3 some seasons). Hardly garbage.2004 was weak but with his glove he was still a very valuable RF that season. Far better than a replacement player. The Pirates and Royals would love to get that kind of production out of anyone right now.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Aug 19, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's possible

With all the revelations about the use of steroids and other illegal performance-enhancing substances over the years, it’s always a possibility. In Alex Rodriguez’s not-so-eloquent words, “it was a loosey-goosey time.”

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Washington, first in war, first in peace, last in the NL East :(

by Potomac Fan on Aug 16, 2009 2:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs