Washington Times: Nationals Insider: Determining his value

The Washington Nationals have a valid list of reasons why they still value Austin Kearns, and it’s a list that’s publicly recited almost every time Kearns’ worth is questioned.

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Most of those things, though, have little to do with Kearns’ actual production on the field. And none of them have to do with his production at the plate.

And then there’s this little problem: Kearns, who is making $8 million this season, has essentially become a fifth outfielder. He has started just 20 of the Nationals’ last 45 games before Sunday, hitting .151 during that span with a .174 slugging percentage and grounding into seven double plays. And on Saturday night, at the end of that 45-game stretch, Kearns drove in his first run since May 7.

Now, as the Nationals push toward the halfway mark of the 2009 season and the last month before the trade deadline, the question becomes whether they value Kearns’ intangibles enough to pay him the rest of that $8 million to be on their roster this year.