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HOUSTON — The Houston Astros and free-agent catcher Victor Caratini have finalized their $12 million, two-year contract. Caratini gets a $6 million salary each of the next two seasons and can earn $500,000 each year in performance bonuses for plate appearances. A switch-hitter, the 30-year-old Caratini spent the past two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers and batted .259 with seven homers, 25 RBIs and a .711 OPS in 62 games this year as William Contreras' backup. He committed only one error and did not have a passed ball in 58 games behind the plate. Caratini is a .236 career hitter with 38 homers and 171 RBIs in seven major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego and Milwaukee. Yainer Díaz is expected to the Astros' starting catcher next season.
