MINNEAPOLIS -- Veteran outfielder Carlos Quentin is coming out of retirement and signing a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training with the Twins, the team announced Tuesday.
Quentin didn't play last year and announced his retirement last May after a nine-year career that included two All-Star appearances. But Quentin, 33, decided to give it another shot with the Twins, who have been looking for a fourth outfielder this offseason.
The Twins have a young core of outfielders that includes Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano, Max Kepler, Oswaldo Arcia and Danny Santana, but lacks a veteran such as Quentin. Quentin will compete for a backup role in Spring Training with fellow non-roster invitees such as Ryan Sweeney, Darin Mastroianni and Joe Benson. The Twins, though, are already crowded in the corners with Joe Mauer and Byung Ho Park at first base, as well as Rosario and Sano in the outfield.
Quentin is a career .252/.347/.484 hitter with 154 homers, 173 doubles and 491 RBIs in 834 games with the D-backs, White Sox and Padres. His last season was in 2014, when he hit .177/.284/.315 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 50 games with San Diego. He's dealt with injuries in recent years but announced in November that he was healthy and looking to make a comeback.