Brewers sign Lyle Overbay to minor league contract

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed first baseman Lyle Overbay to a minor league contract, according to a team announcement. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Overbay, who turns 37 next week, will likely compete with Sean Halton and Juan Francisco for a roster spot during spring training in hopes of serving as a left-handed complement to Mark Reynolds, who was also recently signed to a minor league deal. According to reports, Reynolds is very likely to make the team, so Overbay was likely just brought in as competition to be his platoon partner.

After hitting .240 with 14 HR and 59 RBI in 142 games at first base and right field for the Yankees last season, Overbay drew interest from the Astros and Phillies this winter before signing with the Brewers. He returns to the place where he spent two of the best years of his career in 2004 and 2005, when he hit .289 with 35 HR and 159 RBI in 317 games for Milwaukee.

In thirteen major league seasons with the Diamondbacks (2001-2003, 2011-2012), Brewers (2004-2005), Blue Jays (2006-2010), Pirates (2011), Braves (2012), and Yankees (2013), Overbay is a lifetime .267 hitter with 147 HR and 640 RBI.