Free agent Eric Thames agreed Tuesday to a $16 million, three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, who cut first baseman Chris Carter after a 41-homer season that tied for the National League lead.
A 30-year-old first baseman and outfielder who spent the past three seasons with the NC Dinos in South Korea, Thames gets $4 million next season, $5 million in 2018 and $6 million in 2019. Milwaukee has a $7.5 million option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout.
He hit .348 with 124 home runs, 379 RBI and 64 steals in 388 games in South Korea.
The Brewers have 10 days to attempt to trade Carter, the 29-year-old slugger who agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract last year after he spent his first three seasons with Houston. Carter had 94 RBI and earned $500,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances, but hit just .222 in 160 games last season with an NL-high 206 strikeouts.
Thames spent two seasons in the major leagues, hitting .250 with 21 homers with Toronto and Seattle in 2011-12. The Blue Jays drafted Thames in the seventh round of the 2008 amateur draft.
... Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello won the AL Comeback Player of the Year award, while Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon received the NL honor. ... The Mets agreed to terms on a four-year, $110-million contract to retain Yoenis Cespedes. ... The Cubs and outfielder Jon Jay agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract, likely signaling the end of Dexter Fowler's time with the World Series champions. Jay batted .291 with two homers and 26 RBI in 90 games with San Diego last season.
AROUND THE HORN
Soccer: Bruce Arena opened a binder to a page with 48 names, his depth chart for the U.S. soccer team. Back in charge for the first time in a decade, he views the Americans' state as urgent following losses in the first two games of the final round of World Cup qualifying and already has plans. "We're fighting for our lives starting March 24. We're behind the 8-ball," he said. "We've got to close the gap, and we get six points in the next two games, the gap is closed."
Auto racing: NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer sued HScott Motorsports for allegedly missing monthly payments and sponsorship commission. ESPN.com reported that the suit is seeking at least $2.223 million from HScott Motorsports, for whom Bowyer drove during the 2016 season. Bowyer will move to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017, replacing the retired Tony Stewart in the team's No. 14 car.
