Yankees To Sign Chris Carter To One-Year, $3.5 Million Deal

The New York Yankees signed first baseman and designated hitter Chris Carter on Tuesday. 

The two sides agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal, according to reports. The contract includes a $500,000 signing bonus and $100,000 in incentives at every 50 plate appearances starting from 250 PA until 450 PA. 

Carter is a big power bat and should supplement the Yankees at first base and designated hitter, places where they do not necessarily have holes but could need reinforcement. 

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Carter was non-tendered by the Brewers earlier this offseason, even after leading the National League in home runs with 41 home runs. He has plenty of power but struggles to avoid the strikeout. 

Last year, Carter posted a .222/.321/.499 slash line with those 41 homers and 94 RBIs. But poor defense, high strikeout totals (32 percent of his PAs ended in strikeouts) and other factors resulted in Carter only being worth 0.9 WAR. 

Projected to earn $8 million in arbitration, the Brewers decided to let him go. And, after not finding a taker until this point, Carter's agent went on the record saying that he may begin to consider offers in Japan. 

Unfortunately for Carter, he's probably going to be non-tendered again next offseason. The Yankees cannot offer him consistent at bats with Greg Bird, Tyler Austin and Matt Holliday all deserving of serious consideration at first base and DH, Carter's two main spots.

He still provides upside for the team and an insurance policy if those other three pieces do not perform or get injured. Otherwise, though, it will be hard for Carter to rack up at bats, potentially hurting his power numbers. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today was the first to report Carter's signing, and FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman confirmed the story with contractual details. 

--Devan Fink