The Padres have signed first baseman/outfielder Xavier Nady to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (on Twitter).

Nady, a client of Scott Boras, last appeared in the Majors in 2012, batting .184/.253/.316 in 166 plate appearances between the Nationals and Giants. By signing in San Diego, he returns to the organization that drafted in the second round back in 2000. Nady spent parts of five seasons in the Majors with the Padres and was a semi-regular player in the Majors in the middle of the last decade.

In his best years, from 2005-08, Nady hit .284/.339/.474, averaging 486 plate appearances and 19 home runs per season with the Padres, Pirates, Mets and Yankees. He split last season between the Triple-A affiliates for the Rockies and Royals, posting a robust .296/.360/.456 slash line with 15 homers and 26 doubles.