Not Many Smiles in '17

Perhaps this image was the sign of things to come for Chris Carter. After leading the National League in 2016 with 41 homers -- while hitting .222 with an NL-worst 206 strikeouts, he went unwanted. Finally, he landed a deal with the Yankees as spring training began. Expected to be a backup at 1st base, he got the chance to become a regular after Greg Bird was shelved by an early season ankle injury. But he never took advantage: instead of becoming a middle-of-the-lineup anchor, his numbers were like an anvil, sinking closer to .200 with just eight homers.
The Yankees let him go at the end of June, and while he signed with the A's, he spend the rest of the summer at their top farm club in Nashville, never making it back to the majors. Two weeks from turning 31, he probably isn't on the "wish list" of too many organizations this winter.
(This image was taken just before the Yankees/Braves exhibition game March 9th in Orlando.)

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