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The Miami Marlins are expected to sign Austin Kearns to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, reports Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Kearns, 32, made the Marlins as a non-roster invitee last season. He hit .245/.366/.367 in 175 plate appearances in 2012. For his career, he is a .254/.351/.415 hitter with 121 home runs over 11 seasons.
Kearns will provide the Marlins some insurance at first base just in case Logan Morrison is unable to go at the start of the season. Morrison underwent knee surgery in the offseason and isn't expected to begin running until a week into spring training.
The Marlins are not interested in bringing back free-agent first baseman Carlos Lee. Lee hit .243/.328/.325 after being acquired on July 4th from the Houston Astros.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Marlins are one of several teams interested in signing free-agent reliever Matt Capps. Capps saved 14 games for the Minnesota Twins last year, but missed nearly half the season with a rotator cuff injury.
