Dodgers sign Matt Carson to minor league deal

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have signed outfielder Matt Carson to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp in spring training. The signing was first reported on Thursday by Ryan Walton of Valley Bay News.

Carson, 33, hit .259/.335/.423 with 10 home runs and 13 doubles in 82 games for Triple-A Columbus in 2014, his second straight year in the Indians' system. The former Yucaipa High School grad has hit .263/.326/.442 with 177 home runs and 275 doubles in 13 minor league seasons, including seven years and 696 games at the Triple-A level.

Originally drafted by the Yankees in 2002, Carson remained in New York's organization through 2008. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi was with the Athletics front office in 2009-2011 when Carson was in the A's system, until he was traded to the Rays in August 2011, when new Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was general manager in Tampa Bay.

Carson has played in 92 games in parts of four major league seasons from 2009-2013, hitting .237/.257/.356 with the A's, Twins and Indians. His last cup of coffee came in 2013 with Cleveland, when he was 7-for-11 in 20 games, hitting .636/.692/.909.

The right-hander has played all three outfield positions in his minor league career, with 564 games in right field, 391 games in center field and 145 games in left.