Astros sign outfielder Jason Michaels

The Astros signed Jason Michaels to a one-year, $750,000 contract plus incentives, essentially filling the club’s other backup outfielder’s role for the 2009 season.

With Michaels and Darin Erstad to go along with starters Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn, the Astros’ outfield is set for next season, barring injuries or trades.

Michaels, who has history with Astros general manager Ed Wade as a former member of the Philadelphia Phillies, played with the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates last season. Despite a .224 batting average, the career .271 hitter drove in 53 runs over 286 at-bats last year.

“I had Jason in Philadelphia, and in 2005 he and (Kenny) Lofton shared time in center field and were very productive,” Wade said. “He’s a veteran bat off the bench and is also capable of playing all three outfield spots off the bench. … From a talent standpoint he can play all three outfield positions. He can go out and play every day if needed, too.”

The righthanded-hitting Michaels is a .286 career hitter against lefthanded pitching, providing a complement to the lefthanded hitting Erstad on the bench.

“We wanted a righthanded bat,” Wade said. “We’re down (Mark) Loretta at this point, and we think that Jason can go out there and give us a professional at-bat similar to what Loretta did.”

A few days after not tendering a contract to Ty Wigginton because of economic concerns, the Astros would still like to find a third baseman on the free agent or trade market.

“We have a handful of guys who we’re talking to about coming into the third base mix,” Wade said. “At the very least we’d like somebody to come in and share time with Geoff Blum. At the same time we’re going to give (prospect) Chris Johnson a chance to come into the spring training and see what he can do.”