Nationals decline Kearns' option; outright Kensing and Orr to minors

[Cowtipper]

Austin Kearns, Ron Villone and Dmitri Young all filed for free agency on Friday, thus taking care of the entire slate of eligible players for the Nationals.

Big league players with expiring contracts and six years of Major League service time have a 15-day window to file for free agency after the World Series, and their previous club can negotiate exclusively with them until Nov. 20. After that, they are free to sign with any team.

Kearns, a 29-year-old outfielder, had a $10 million option that was, as expected, declined, with Washington instead taking the $1 million buyout.

That likely ends Kearns' tenure with the Nationals. The once-promising right-handed hitter made $17.5 million with the club the past three years but hit just .209 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs combined the past two seasons. For his eight-year career, he's hit .256 with 105 home runs.

In 2009, Kearns saw action in just 80 games, batting .195 with three home runs and 17 RBIs.

Young was limited to just 186 games in his three years in Washington because of a series of injuries, including a torn left quadriceps that kept him out of the Major Leagues all of 2009. The 36-year-old first baseman, whose two-year, $10 million deal has expired, may retire this offseason.

For his career, Young has batted .292 with 171 home runs in 13 years in the big leagues.

Villone, signed to a Minor League contract, went 5-6 with a 4.25 ERA in 63 relief appearances -- second most on the Nats' pitching staff this season. The 39-year-old left-hander has a 4.73 ERA in 15 seasons in the big leagues.

Catcher Josh Bard and right-hander Livan Hernandez filed for free agency the first day they were eligible to, on Thursday.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091106&content_id=7634210&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Washington P Logan Kensing - Outrighted to Minors
Washington 2B Pete Orr - Outrighted to Minors

http://tsn.ca/mlb/transactions/

[Peorgie T]

$15M freed up just between Kearns and Meat, the worst of Bowden's follies are finally behind us. I wouldn't mind seeing the Nats re-sign Livan if the price were right as long as they don't see him as the only starter they need to sign.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Kearns got all that money and did absolutely nothing. Good riddance.

[Extra Innings]

Kearns got all that money and did absolutely nothing. Good riddance.

Despite his injuries, Kearns did very little like you said. He should be a cheap option as a 4th OF/Bench player for someone if he can come back at 100%.

[Peorgie T]

Despite his injuries, Kearns did very little like you said. He should be a cheap option as a 4th OF/Bench player for someone if he can come back at 100%.

He stank at the plate when he was healthy, and the team was better without him. No doubt, someone will pick him up; he's a good defensive RF, and as Carpenter always pointed out on the game broadcasts, he's a "classy guy".

[Cod]

I'd like to see a Livian re-signing just so the bullpen can get much needed rest every 5 or so days. Hernandez, even at his age, can eat up lots of innings on the mound.