Astros officially announce deal with Carlos Beltran

The Houston Astros officially announced the team had reached a one-year agreement with free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran — as announced by Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow.

The Astros did disclose the terms of the deal but it is a reported $16 million contract.

Per the Astros press release:

Beltran, 39, is a 19-year Major League veteran and nine-time All-Star, including a 2016 All-Star campaign that he split between New York (AL) and Texas. In 151 games with the Yankees (99g) and Rangers (52g) last season, he hit .295 (163x552) with 33 doubles, 29 home runs and 93 RBI with a .513 slugging percentage and an .850 OPS. The three-time Gold Glove outfielder (2006-08) started 67 games in right field, while starting 73 games at DH. The switch-hitter excelled against both right and left-handed pitchers in 2016, posting a .970 OPS vs. lefties and an .805 OPS vs. righties.

This will be Beltran’s second stint with the Astros, as he played 90 games for the club after he was acquired in a midseason trade in 2004. Beltran helped lead the Astros to a postseason berth in 2004 after hitting 23 homers, posting a .926 OPS and stealing 28 bases without a caught stealing in the regular season. Beltran had one of the finest postseasons in Major League history for the Astros in 2004, hitting .435 (20x46) with eight home runs and 14 RBI in 12 games as the Astros fell just one win shy of reaching the World Series, losing the NLCS to the Cardinals in seven games. His eight homers are still a Major League record for a single postseason, which has been accomplished by two other players: Barry Bonds (2002) and Nelson Cruz (2011).

Beltran brings a historic pedigree switch hitter and playoff hitter. Beltran has he has hit .281 (2617x9301) with 536 doubles, 421 home runs, 1,536 RBI and an .845 OPS. Beltran has appeared in 55 career playoff games and owns a .323 (63x195) average with 16 home runs and 41 RBI in those contests.