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The Houston Astros and free agent Jack Cust have agreed to a one-year deal that includes a club option for the 2013 season, according Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle. We still haven't received information on the money that he'll receive in the deal, which was initially reported on by FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Cust, 33, had a lackluster 2011 while being released by both the Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies. He only got into MLB playing time with Seattle, posting a .213/.344/.329 line over 270 plate appearances while showing off his trademark patience.
Power was once a key part of Cust's game, but he's shown gradual decline in his power numbers over the years. In 2007-2008, Cust hit 59 homers and posted a .247 isolated power, but in the three years since he's hit just 41 homers with a .161 isolated power.
In Cust, the Astros get another intriguing power bat to play around with in 2012. Between him, Brett Wallace and Carlos Lee, Houston has three defensively-challenged hitters that could potentially emerge as DH options when the team moves to the American League in 2013.