The Houston Astros non-tendered Chris Carter on Wednesday, making him a free agent.

"It was late and I thought maybe it was going to happen, but it's a business," Carter said. "It just gives me the opportunity to go somewhere else and help another team out."

Carter made $4.175 million last season and hit .199 with 24 homers and 64 RBIs following a September surge in which he led the Majors in batting average (.353), slugging percentage (.971) and OPS (1.376) from Sept. 18 until the end of the season.