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HOUSTON - The Astros agreed with Chris Carter on a one-year contract for $4,175,000 on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration with the slugging designated hitter.Im just thrilled to be an Astro and to have this deal done so I can concentrate on the upcoming season and building on my success last year, Carter told The Associated Press.Carter tied for second in the majors with a career-high 37 homers last season. The 28-year-old hit .227 with 88 RBIs, which also were the most of his career and led the Astros. It was his second season in Houston after a trade from Oakland.Carter spent 118 games at designated hitter and started 14 games at first base and six in the outfield.The Astros made a 19-game improvement last season to end a string of three-straight 100-loss seasons. With an offence led by Carter and Jose Altuve, a solid starting rotation and the addition of relievers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek, Houston expects to take another step in 2015.I am excited about the way the team is shaping up and I feel like the new additions, combined with our core players, will help us be more successful in 2015, Carter said.The deal gives Carter a big raise — he made just $510,000 last season. And Wednesdays agreement includes several award bonuses, among them $25,000 for being named to the All-Star game and $25,000 if he wins a Silver Slugger award.Carter hit 29 homers in 2013 in his first full season in the majors. He had a tough start to 2014 before heating up after July 1 to finish three home runs behind MLB leader Nelson Cruz (40). Carter led the American League last season by hitting a home run once every 13.7 at-bats. His power had always been undeniable but in the second half of last season he made some tweaks to help him make more consistent contact and raise his batting average.The changes allowed the 6-foot-4, 250-pound slugger to hit 20 homers and 48 RBIs in July and August combined. Carter participated in the Japan All-Star series this off-season and spent the rest of the time preparing for the season at his home in Las Vegas.Im continuing working on what I worked on in the second half of the season and hope to carry it into this season, he said.Other arbitration eligible players for Houston are catchers Jason Castro, Hank Conger and Carlos Corporan, outfielder Dexter Fowler, shortstop Marwin Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Tony Sipp.___AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. Terry Rozier Celtics Jersey . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. 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Mueller is the grandson of the late Ron Lancaster, the Hall-of-Fame quarterback and longtime head coach in the CFL. Last season, Mueller was quarterbacks coach of the University of Regina Rams, his alma mater.LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he declined a chance to speak with owner Donald Sterling, who is alleged to have made racist comments in a recorded conversation. "I was asked, do I need to talk with Donald, and I passed, quite honestly," Rivers said Monday. "I dont think right now is the time or the place, for me, at least. I just took a pass." Sterling is purported to have told a woman not to bring black people to his games or associate with them. "Yeah, I believe he said those things. But I still want to make sure," Rivers said during a conference call. "As far as believing those things? I heard what he said. Until someone tells me differently, you usually listen to what people say. I havent given him his due process. I havent given him an opportunity to explain himself and quite honestly right now I dont want him to. I want to wait for that further judgment." The coach cancelled practice Monday, a day after a 118-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors that evened their playoff series at 2-2. "I just felt like they needed to breathe. Theyve been inundated with this," Rivers said. Still, he said pretty much the entire team was at the clubs practice facility. "Ill go down and say hi to them and talk to them, make sure theyre in the right place. Right now its more than basketball. This is a non-basketball decision that I thought I had to make and I thought it was right decision. If you get your life better, then you can probably do your work better. They need to do that." Game 5 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles. "These last 48 hours or so have been really hard for our players and everyone," Rivers said. "Id just like to reiterate how disappointed I am in the comments attributed to our owner. I cant tell you how upset I am, our players are." Warriors coach Mark Jackson suggested that Clippers fans should boycott the game. "I believe iif it was me, I wouldnt come to the game," Jackson said.dddddddddddd"I believe the fans, the loudest statement that they can make as fans is to not show up to the game. ... To me, it will make the noise of it not being tolerated. That this is a different time. Its unfortunate, and we cannot allow someone with these feelings to profit." Rivers said he knew Jackson was speaking from his heart and that everyone has their opinion. "I dont share that. I hope its packed and people are cheering for us, the players. And they were cheering for the players before this happened. But if they feel differently, who can say theyre wrong? And Im not the one thats going to say that, I can tell you that." Rivers said its still to be determined whether he or a player will address the crowd. "Again, we dont know the right answer," Rivers said. "We want to do right here. We want to make the best decisions here. If we feel thats something will help our fans, then it will be done. If we feel its something they dont need, we wont do it. The tickets have already been sold. The fans, theyre in a dilemma as well. We want them to cheer for their players and their team. Because its still their players and their team, and it will be their players and their team. I think from what I get from the fans Ive heard from, thats how they feel, like, This is my team, these are my players Im cheering for, and thats not going to change. I hope that continues." Rivers said the controversy has been tough on his players. "What other players are going through Should I be playing thoughts in the middle of a playoff series? I sympathize for my players. They didnt sign on for this. Yet here they are and theyre in the middle of it and they have to deal with it. They didnt do anything wrong and theyre in the middle of it, and they didnt ask to be. 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