MLB PLAYER NEWS

Brewers, Middlebrooks agree to minor league deal

The Sports Xchange

December 15, 2015 at 6:21 pm.

May 31, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks (R) is congratulated by right fielder Matt Kemp (27) after driving him in with a two run home run during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

May 31, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks (R) is congratulated by right fielder Matt Kemp (27) after driving him in with a two run home run during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks reached agreement on a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.

Middlebrooks, who began the 2015 season as the San Diego Padres’ starting third baseman, hit only .212 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 83 games and spent time in the minor leagues. He was non-tendered by the Padres on Dec. 2 and became a free agent.

The 27-year-old Middlebrooks is expected to compete for the third base job with the Brewers.

Middlebrooks made a splash as a rookie with the Boston Red Sox in 2012 with a .288 batting average and 15 home runs in 75 games, but his production has dropped off the past three years. He hit .227 in 2013 and .191 in 2014 for the Red Sox.