The trade stung, forcing him to leave his hometown, the only organization he had known and one battling fora playoff spot. But before the season had ended, Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez chatted about the direction of their new ballclub.
“There are good players here,” Kearns said he told his ex-Cincinnati Reds and current Nationals teammate. “This could be something special.”
Whether or not that happens, Kearns will be a part of it, at least for the next several years. On Thursday, he signed a three-year extension with a club option for a fourth, thereby avoiding arbitration and, ultimately, free agency.
Kearns, 26, will start in right field and bat somewhere in the middle of the order.
“His prime is just starting now,” Nats vice president and general manager Jim Bowden said. “[He] has a very strong ability to drive in runs and move runners over and hit the ball out of the park. He’s a complete player. … He cares about winning and playing the game the right way.”
The Nats acquired Kearns in a mid-summer trade with Cincinnati — Bowden had drafted him when he was the Reds general manager.
Kearns batted .250 with eight homers and 36 RBI in 63 games with Washington. In a career-high 150 games total last season – he has battled nagging injuries in previous seasons — he finished with 24 homers, 86 RBI and 86 runs scored and a .264 average.
Catcher Brian Schneider and first baseman Nick Johnson also are signed through 2009; Kearns hung around with those two as well as third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
The Nats are expected to struggle mightily this season under first-year manager Manny Acta.
“People don’t realize the talent that’s already here and how close this thing is,” Kearns said. “That excited me.”
And, he said, that eased his pain over the trade
“The first time a player gets traded you’re in a bit of shock,” he said. “But I’ve adjusted here quickly. I told many people, you come to the park and we’re in last pace and you’d never know it by the fan support here. I feel good about where this is going. I don’t think there will be a better place to be than here.”
Austin power
» Kearns will make $3.5 million this year; $5 million in 2008; $8 million in 2009 and $10 million if a club option is picked up.
» Kearns will wear number 25 after wearing 28 since his rookie season. He was the seventh overall pick in the 1998 draft.
» General manager Jim Bowden said he’s not sure when 1B Nick Johnson (femur) will return. The same is true of pitcher John Patterson (right forearm). Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 13.
