After trading away first basemen Adam Lind to Seattle and Jason Rogers to Pittsburgh, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Chris Carter, who was not tendered a contract by the Houston Astros.
The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal for $2.5 million and can earn another $500,000 in incentives.
Carter hit 24 home runs and drove in 64 runs for the Astros last season, but hit just .199. He also struck out 151 times.
Carter was traded from Oakland to Houston before the 2014 season and hit 29 home runs while driving in 82 runs in 148 games that year. But he also led the American League in strikeouts with 212. In 2014, he clubbed 37 homers with 88 RBI in 145 games but struck out 182 times.
The Brewers made room for Carter on the 40-man roster by designating catcher Josmil Pinto for assignment. Pinto had been claimed off waivers from San Diego last month.
Hoffman falls short in Hall of Fame Voting
Former Brewers’ closer Trevor Hoffman finished fifth in the baseball writers’ voting for the Hall-of-Fame. He received 67.3% of the 440 votes, 34 short of the required 330 needed for election. It was the first year on the ballot for Hoffman, who played 18 seasons, most of them with San Diego. He finished with 601 saves, ranking second all-time.