Brewers add Thames on three-year deal

MILWAUKEE — In one of the most out-of-the-box signings in recent baseball history, the Brewers on Tuesday have finalized a three-year contract with Eric Thames, a 30-year-old going on five years since his last at-bat in the big leagues and who spent the past three seasons putting up monster numbers in Korea.

The intent is for Thames to play first base and provide some left-handed thump to a righty-leaning Brewers lineup. The club will spend the rest of this week trying to trade incumbent Chris Carter before Friday’s non-tender deadline. Carter’s salary could jump to $10 million to $11 million next season in arbitration, according to the Brewers’ internal projections, after he hit 41 home runs in 2016.

While the terms of Thames’ contract, which includes a fourth-year option, were not immediately known, Brewers officials believe his upside and more modest salary give him a better chance than the costly Carter to be a contributor for the team when it reaches the other …

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