HOUSTON (AP) — Free-agent first baseman Chris Carter agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.
The right-handed slugger became a free agent when the Houston Astros declined to offer him a contract in December.
Milwaukee was in need of a first baseman after trading Adam Lind to Seattle for prospects last month. The deal includes $500,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $100,000 each for 350, 400 and 450, and $200,000 for 500.
Carter, who hit .199 with 24 homers and 64 RBIs in 2015, when he made $4,175,000 in his first year of eligibility for arbitration. Houston let him go rather than pay the likely more than $5 million salary he would have commanded in arbitration this year.
The move reunites Carter with Milwaukee general manager David Stearns, who worked as Houston's assistant general manager until this summer.
"We are pleased to be able to add Chris to our organization," Stearns said in a statement. "Over the past three seasons, Chris has proven to be one of the most consistent power threats in the game. We believe that his skills and experiences will complement our team well and provide additional production to our lineup."
The 29-year-old Carter had a tough time in 2015. He was benched in the summer before working his way back into the lineup and hitting .344 in September to help the Astros earn the second AL wild-card spot, their first postseason berth since 2005. He was also solid for the Astros in the ALDS before they were eliminated by the Royals, hitting .294 with a double, a homer and an RBI.
Carter started at first base in each of Houston's six playoff games and was a triple shy of the cycle in Game 3 of the ALDS when he finished 3 for 3 with one RBI and two runs scored.
