Milwaukee Brewers : What to Expect from Chris Carter

It wasn’t a matter of who the Brewers would get someone to cover 1B but rather when they would. While the rest of the baseball world was soaking in who would go to Cooperstown and who wouldn’t, the Brewers signed their first baseman. The Brewers officially announced earlier today, that they had signed former Astro Chris Carter to a 1 year deal.

Carter spent the last season with the Astros and before that he spent three seasons with the Athletics. Carter played 129 games last season for Houston, primarily at first base. Carter had a down year last year posting .199/.307/.427 with 24 home runs and 64 RBI in 129 games as opposed to hit .217/.312/.452, with a total of 109 HR over his career. Given the deal per Ken Rosenthal it’ll be good for both sides, especially if Carter performs better this year than last.

Related Story: Brewers Sign First Baseman Christ Carter

Here’s what to expect from Chris Carter for the Brew Crew:

Where he’ll hit

In Houston he came out of the 6/7 spot batting .190/.260 respectively. Given that Adam Lind has been traded away (and probably would have been in the 7 spot next season) it seems probable Carter will end up at 7. Khris Davis at 6 and Carter at 7 will give the Brewers plenty of power options and may prove to be quite beneficial in the long run.

Production

Baseball Reference predicts Carter will have a line .221/.311/.454 with 19 doubles, 26 home runs and 68 RBI’s. While those aren’t eye popping numbers given what the Brewers are paying him, it’s safe to say we are getting our money’s worth.  Those numbers are right around his career averages so that could be an accurate prediction.  Carter really isn’t an upgrade of any sorts, and really the only way he’s a plus is if he bounces back from a down year, and then the sky’s the limit for him and the Brewers. They could chose to use him as trade value or keep him long term as a viable option for first base.

Hopefully last year was a fluke and he produces at the level or better than he is projected to, which will be beneficial for both the Brewers and himself. The Brewers are hoping he’ll bounce back and be a steal for what they’re paying him, at least if I’m the Brewers that’s what I’m inclined to hope.

Carter is still young and can breakout, it isn’t the case that he’s 34 and declining, he still has plenty of good baseball years ahead of himself, a good year of production for the Brewers can be bring a lot to Miller Park, especially in a place liked by power hitters (Fielder, Davis, Reynolds). All around it seems like definite optimism in this signing and encouragement for Carter to bounce back

Overall

Given that Carter is looking to bounce back this year, he’ll frequently play in Miller Park and the talent he’ll be surrounded by Carter should be a dependable and viable first basemen for the Brew Crew. The sky’s the limit for Carter and it really falls in his hands, most of what he needs to bounce back as been given to him with the opportunity to play in Milwaukee.