The Marlins are close to signing Matt Downs, reports MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. The free agent utility man will receive a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Downs, 28, elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Astros back in October. He hit .202/.253/.371 with eight homers in 191 plate appearances for Houston in 2012, though one year prior he managed a .276/.347/.518 line with ten homers in 222 plate appearances. Downs has experience at all four infield positions and the two corner outfield spots.
As our Transactions Tracker shows, the Marlins have also signed Michael Wuertz, Austin Kearns, and Nick Green to minor league contracts this month.
