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.
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