Marlins signed INF/OF Matt Downs to a minor league contract.

He'll receive an invitation to spring training. Downs batted .241/.303/.448 with 18 homers over the last two seasons with the Astros while playing six different positions. The 28-year-old's best chance at playing time with the Marlins will probably be at second base, where the club is currently slated to go with Donovan Solano. He could also wind up seeing ample time at third if Placido Polanco's back acts up again.

The Marlins are expected to sign Matt Downs to a minor league contract.

The deal is expected to include a spring training invite. Downs batted just .202/.253/.371 in 91 games last season and will compete for a utility role with the Marlins.

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that the Phillies, Marlins and Rockies are showing interest in Matt Downs.

Downs hit 18 homers over the last two years for the Astros in a utility role but has put up an unappealing .230/.296/.406 career batting line. It will only take a minor league deal to sign him.

Matt Downs has elected free agency.

Downs batted just .202/.253/.371 over 91 games for Houston this season. The 29-year-old will have to settle for a minor league deal elsewhere.

Astros designated INF/OF Matt Downs for assignment.

He was cleared from the 40-man roster in advance of free agency and December's Rule 5 Draft. Downs, 28, batted .202/.253/.371 with eight home runs, 16 RBI and a .623 OPS in 191 plate appearances this season.

Matt Downs smashed a two-run homer in a losing effort against the Phillies on Friday night.

He finished the game 1-for-3. His two-run blast off Cole Hamels in the fourth inning cut the Astros deficit to 5-3, but that was as close as they would get. Downs has struggled in a part-time role this season, hitting a paltry .206/.250/.382 with eight homers and 16 RBI in 170 at-bats.

Astros recalled INF-OF Matt Downs from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Downs hit .208/.252/.377 with seven home runs and 13 RBI in 154 at-bats with the big-league club earlier this season, and can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

Astros optioned INF/OF Matt Downs to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The move clears a spot for the newly-acquired Tyler Greene on the active roster. J.D. Martinez was also sent down to the minors, but a corresponding roster move isn't yet known. Downs is hitting .208 with seven homers, 13 RBI and a .628 OPS in 76 games with the Astros this season. He figures to return later this season.

Matt Downs homered once and barely pulled a second foul Thursday against the Giants.

Downs is hitting just .171, but four of his 14 hits have been homers. It remains to be seen whether the Astros will keep him around after Carlos Lee returns from the disabled list.

Astros recalled INF Matt Downs from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

He'll replace Fernando Martinez (concussion) on the active roster. Downs will serve as infield depth and could see the occasional at-bat against left-handed pitching. He typically bad offensively prior to being demoted last week.

Astros optioned infielder Matt Downs to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Downs was a terrific part-timer last year, hitting .276/.347/.518 with 41 RBI in 199 at-bats for an Astros team that was pretty terrible offensively. This season, though, he's hit just .152/.211/.348 in 66 at-bats. He'll get regular starts in the minors for a bit, and if he succeeds, he'll likely be brought back.

Matt Downs will start in right field Monday for the first in his major league career.

While Downs hasn't played the outfield in the big leagues, he has made 29 appearances there in the minors. The Astros have discussed giving him a look behind the plate during spring training next February, so they clearly see him as a utility-type moving forward. The 27-year-old is batting .278/.351/.500 with eight homers, 33 RBI and an .851 OPS over 202 plate appearances this season.

Matt Downs blasted a three-run homer in the ninth inning on Monday, though the Astros fell 9-5 to the Rockies.

Downs has put up solid numbers (.860 OPS) this season despite not getting a chance to play every day. He has not been much of a producer in the past, so it will be interesting to see if and how he is utilized heading into next season.

Matt Downs doubled twice and drove in two runs in Houston's loss to the Cubs on Monday.

Downs is now 5-for-9 with three doubles in his past two starts. However, those are the only two starts he's made in the month of August.

Astros activated INF Matt Downs from the bereavement list.

Downs left the team following Sunday's game to be present for the birth of his first son. He returns to a .252/.347/.505 batting line to go along with six homers and 22 RBI over 124 plate appearances this season.

Astros placed IF Matt Downs on Paternity Leave List.

His wife, Leah, is expecting a child. He'll rejoin the team Friday in Chicago. Downs has been getting quite a bit of playing time of late, particularly at third base, but he's struggled at the plate recently.

Astros manager Brad Mills indicated that Matt Downs could be his regular third baseman for a while.

"There's no doubt that we are anxious about that, getting (Downs) some opportunities," Mills said. "I think we're in a position now where we're able to do that a little bit. I had a talk with (Chris Johnson) yesterday. This is nothing against him. We're still looking for him to be a big, vital part of this. Let's work on some things and get through some things and see how it does. The more information we gather now, the fewer questions we're going to have later." Downs has a solid .260/.355/.519 batting line with six homers in 104 at-bats this season. He's worth adding in NL-only leagues, but the upside with the 27-year-old is minimal.

Astros manager Brad Mills plans to give Matt Downs more playing time going forward.

Downs belted a game-winning, ninth-inning homer off the Rangers' Neftali Feliz Wednesday and has been successful as a pinch-hitter, going is 7-for-18 (.389) at the plate. "The way to keep him swinging the bat so well off the bench is to give him some more starts, give him some more playing time," Mills said. "We want to do that going forward. He's earned that right, to be able to do it." Chris Johnson and Jeff Keppinger figure to see their at-bats drop a bit, though Downs is also capable of playing shortstop, so Clint Barmes could cede some at-bats, as well.

Starting in place of Chris Johnson on Wednesday, Matt Downs doubled and homered in Houston's loss to the Cubs.

He picked up his fourth and fifth RBI in the process. Downs has virtually no upside, but as a live body with a little bit of pop and a reasonable expectation of at-bats, he's worth a look in deep NL-only leagues.

Matt Downs doubled in Brett Wallace in the top of the ninth to propel the Astros to a 3-2 win over the Reds on Thursday.

It was the first hit in four at-bats this season for Downs. With Bill Hall and Chris Johnson both off to poor starts, Downs should get his first start at some point this weekend. He entered today's game at second base as part of a double-switch.