The New York yankees went bargain hunting on Tuesday and landed the 2016 National League leader in home runs, Chris Carter. USA Today is reporting that the deal is for a base salary of $3 million and could be worth up to $4 million if he reaches all of his plate appearance incentives. Carter was on the radar of several teams in the last few weeks, including the Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles.
An interesting off-season for Chris Carter
Carter spent the 2016 season with Milwaukee Brewers and crushed 41 home runs to tie for the league lead with Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The 30-year-old has played first base and the outfield, but is certainly a defensive liability and will likely get most of his at bat, as New York's designated hitter. Carter was let go by the Brewers in November because he was likely to make close to $7 million in arbitration.
Joe Girardi will have many options
The Yankees will have several options for first base and DH in 2017. Greg Bird will be coming back after missing all of the 2016 season due to a shoulder injury, and is likely to get the first chance at the starting first base job. Newly acquired outfielder Matt Holliday will get some time at DH in order to save some wear and tear on his aging body. Youngster Tyler Austin will probably wind up losing the most playing time and might even wind up back in the minors if the Yankees don't make any more moves before the season begins.
This will be Carter's eighth season in the majors, and the Yankees are his fourth team. He started with the Oakland A's, then spent three seasons with the Houston Astros, and just one year in Milwaukee. Carter is an all or nothing hitter, and he led his league in strikeouts in 2013 and 2016. His career batting average is just .218, and his on-base percentage is only .314.
Carter is not a threat on the base paths, either.
Much needed pop
In the end Carter is a one trick pony, he can hit the ball a long, long way. It is a low-risk signing for the Yankees, and if Carter does really well, they could even have him for next year, because he will still be arbitration eligible for the 2018 season. The Yankees lineup needed a bit more power, and this wound up being the best they could do. He could wind up being a very good find in the discount bin.
