Pirates sign Brad Hawpe, Lucas May

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed free agent outfielder Brad Hawpe and catcher Lucas May to minor league contracts that include invitations to major league spring training, the team has announced.

Hawpe spent the 2012 season with the Texas Rangers. The outfielder was signed by the Rangers last January, released before the start of the regular season, and re-signed with Texas on April 6.

Hawpe went on to appear in 35 games for the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate, hitting .260/.382/.382 with six doubles and three home runs over 123 at-bats. Texas released him on June 19, a move that would put him out of the professional ranks for the remainder of the season.

Hawpe has hit .276/.368/.480 over eight seasons at the major league level. From 2006 through 2009 with the Colorado Rockies, he hit an impressive .288/.384/.518 while averaging 33 doubles and over 24 home runs per season.

May spent the 2012 season with the New York Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. Over 75 games the 28-year-old hit .215/.245/.348 with 19 doubles, three triples and three home runs.