The Arizona Diamondbacks continued their offseason restructuring on Wednesday by signing free agent Xavier Nady to a one-year deal worth a reported $1.75 million.
Nady is expected to platoon in the outfield and at first base. Nady had played predominantly in the outfield over his last five seasons, but did start 48 games at first base with the Chicago Cubs in 2010.
Nady was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Amateur Draft by the San Diego Padres, where he would make his debut that September, playing in one game for the Padres. Nady delivered a pinch-hit single in the 7th inning off of Dodgers’ reliever Onan Masaoka in a 10-2 loss on September 30th.
Nady would spend the next two full seasons in the San Diego minor league system, splitting time between Lake Elsinore (A) and Portland (AAA). Nady batted .292 with 49 homers and 180 runs batted in over the two seasons.
He spent most of the next three seasons with the big club in San Diego, hitting .263 in 269 games. ...
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