Jack Cust, who signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with the Astros with an option for 2013, was bubbling with excitement about his new team during an interview Wednesday with MLB.com

“I’m excited for it,” he said. “I feel like it energizes me. We’ve been talking to Houston for a little bit now, and I knew there was a prospect of me going down there. I feel I’m in good shape and ready to go. It’s definitely exciting going to a new league and in the Central division, which has a lot of very good teams.”

Cust, who is on a non-guaranteed Major League deal, appeared in 67 games before being cut loose by the Mariners last July, batting .213 with three homers and 23 RBIs. He spent the previous four seasons with the Oakland A’s, hitting 97 homers and driving in 281 runs in that span.

“Last year was a big disappointment for me after having some pretty good years the previous four seasons,” Cust said. “I never really had a year like last year and it motivates you. I feel like I’m a hard worker. I’m going to keep working hard and I’m excited to go out and show people I can still do what I know I can do, which what I’ve always done: hit the ball out of the ballpark and get on base and score runs.”

Cust said he hasn’t spoken to anyone with the Astros regarding his role with the club in 2012, but he wants to try to win a starting job. He could possibly get some time at first base, too.

“Whatever it is, you’ve got to get yourself ready to play,” he said. “I like to hit the ball to all fields, hit home runs and drive in runs and score runs. That’s what the game is all about on offense. I play hard every day and I want to play every day. That’s the name of the game to me, going out there and playing the game hard and leaving it all on the field. I’m excited to show the fans what I can do.”