HOUSTON -- More than a decade after his memorable postseason performance for the Astros helped vault him to stardom, Carlos Beltran is returning to Houston for 2017 after agreeing Saturday to a one-year, $16 million contract with a full no-trade clause, a source confirmed to MLB.com. The team has not confirmed the deal.
 
Carlos Beltran agrees to one-year, $16M deal with Astros
 
Beltran, 39, figures to split time between outfield and designated hitter for the Astros like he did last year for the Yankees and Rangers, a season in which he was an All-Star for the ninth time. The veteran slugger hit .295 with 29 homers and 93 RBIs in 151 games with New York and Texas, which acquired him midseason.
The signing of Beltran marks the third major addition to the Astros' lineup in the past three weeks. Last month, the Astros traded for veteran catcherBrian McCann and signed free-agent outfielder Josh Reddick. Beltran, McCann and Reddick join a lineup that includes American League batting champion Jose AltuveCarlos CorreaGeorge SpringerAlex Bregman,Yulieski Gurriel and Evan Gattis, who led the team in homers this past season.
Previously, the club signed free-agent starting pitcher Charlie Morton and acquired outfielder Norichika Aoki off waivers -- all prior to the start of the Winter Meetings, which begin Monday. The Astros are still in the market for a starting pitcher as they prepare for the start of the Meetings.
Beltran's previous tenure in Houston was short, but memorable. The Astros acquired him from the Royals on June 24, 2004, in a three-team trade, and Beltran helped push a star-studded team that included Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt into the postseason. Beltran hit .258 with 23 homers, 53 RBIs and 28 steals for the Astros, and he represented them in the All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park.
In an historic postseason, Beltran mashed eight home runs, tying the Major League record for a single postseason set by Barry Bonds in 2002. That included homering in five straight games, including the first four of the National League Championship Series against St. Louis.
The Astros were then outbid in free agency by the New York Mets to retain Beltran in offseason negotiations that went down to the wire. He signed a seven-year, $119 million deal with a full no-trade clause with the Mets after the Astros had offered $108 million and a limited no-trade clause.
In his 19-year career, which has also included stints with the Cardinals and Giants, Beltran has pushed himself into Hall of Fame consideration with a .281 career average, a .354 on-base percentage, 2,617 hits, 421 homers, 1,536 RBIs and 312 steals.
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
 

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