Braves agree to terms with free-agent infielder Alberto Callaspo

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Atlanta Braves have agreed to terms with free-agent infielder Alberto Callaspo on a one-year contract for the 2015 season. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. To make room of Callaspo on the 40-man roster, Atlanta has designated right-handed pitcher Anthony Varvaro for assignment.

Callaspo, 31, has played with four teams over his nine-year career, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics. He has made postseason appearances with Arizona (2007) and Oakland (2013 & 2014).

The switch-hitting Callaspo has played at least 127 games in each of the last six seasons (since 2009) and has compiled a .267 career batting average in 996 games, with only 331 strikeouts in 3,695 plate appearances. He has never struck out more than 59 times in a season and his career rate of one strikeout per 11.16 plate appearances is the best of all active Major League players with at least 3,500 plate appearances.

A native of Maracay, Venezuela, Callaspo has played 537 games at third base and 295 at second base, and also has experience at shortstop (32 games), first base (23) and in the outfield (14). He was originally signed by the Angels as an amateur free agent in 2001 and he made his Major League debut with Arizona in 2006.