Ausmus gets one-year, $2M deal to return to Astros

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HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros signed catcher Brad Ausmus to a one-year contract worth $2 million plus incentives on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old hit .235 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 117 games for Houston last season. He committed only four errors in 2007 and ranked fourth among catchers in the National League with a .995 fielding percentage.

It will be the 10th season in Houston for the three-time Gold Glove winner, who played for the Astros from 1997-98 and returned in 2001. He is the franchise leader at catcher in games (1,166) and starts (1,057). Last season he became the 21st catcher to steal 100 bases.

"Brad has had a solid big league career and despite the fact that he's played for a couple of other teams, he considers himself to be a lifelong Astro," Astros general manager Ed Wade said.

Ausmus, a career .252 hitter, also played for San Diego and Detroit.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

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