Brewers: Longtime minor-leaguer added.
The Milwaukee Brewers announced Monday morning they have agreed to a minor-league deal with Cody Decker, a corner infielder who will concentrate in 2017 on catching, adding to the organization’s depth there.
Decker’s deal does not include an invitation to major-league spring camp. Decker, who turns 30 on Jan. 17, will play for Israel this spring in the World Baseball Classic and is currently in that country participating in a goodwill tour.
Decker was a 22nd-round draft pick by San Diego in 2009 out of UCLA and played in the Padres’ system through 2015. He saw his only action in the majors that year, going 0 for 11 in eight games.
Decker signed with Kansas City last winter but the Royals sold him to Colorado in April. He was released from Class AAA Albuquerque in May and signed with the Boston Red Sox, who assigned him to Class AAA Portland.
In 845 minor-league games, Decker compiled a .262 batting average and .861 OPS with 173 homers and 550 RBI. He was a corner infielder and outfielder until he began doing some catching in recent seasons.
Decker has played 420 games at the Class AAA level, batting .255 with a .834 OPS, with 74 homers and 240 RBI. In 1,324 atbats at that level, he has struck out 412 times.
Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy managed Decker when both were in San Diego’s system prior to last year.