Jose Bautista agrees to minor league deal with Braves, will play 3B

1:44 PM ET

Jose Bautista has joined the Atlanta Braves, who plan to use the veteran slugger at third base.

The Braves announced Wednesday that they agreed to terms with Bautista on a minor-league deal. The six-time All-Star has reported to the organization's extended spring training complex.

Bautista, 37, had been unsigned after spending the past 10 years with Toronto, where he emerged as one of baseball's most accomplished and feared sluggers.

Primarily a right fielder over the past eight years, Bautista has appeared in just 12 games at third base since the start of the 2012 season.

But the Braves, who are off to a 9-7 start this season, will give Bautista an opportunity to play the position. He played more extensively at third earlier in his career, as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates and in his first four years with the Blue Jays.

Ryan Flaherty has been Atlanta's primary third baseman this season and has gotten off to a hot start, batting .354 in his first 14 games.

Bautista batted just .203 with 23 home runs and 65 RBIs last season. He has 331 homers and 927 RBIs in parts of 14 seasons with Toronto, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

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