Nady signed to Minor League contract

SEATTLE -- Veteran outfielder/first baseman Xavier Nady signed a Minor League deal with the Mariners on Wednesday after passing a physical exam and will report to extended spring training in Arizona.

Nady, 35, was designated for assignment by the Padres on May 5 and became a free agent on May 11. He hit .135 (5-for-37) with San Diego this season, with three home runs and four RBIs in 22 games.

"This guy is a professional," said Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. "He's gotten off to a slow start this year and didn't get a lot of at-bats, but I think it's worth a look. He's going to go to Arizona and try to get some at-bats and hopefully we can get him to Triple-A and get him up to speed and then we'll see where we are.

"I don't know what's going to happen," McClendon said, "but I certainly think it's well worth it."

The 12-year Major League veteran is a career .268 hitter with 104 home runs and 410 RBIs in 961 games. He's played five years with the Padres, three with the Pirates, two with the Yankees and has also played with the D-Backs, Mets, Giants, Cubs and Nationals.

Nady spent all of 2013 in Triple-A, hitting .296 with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs and then struggled in his brief time with the Padres this season when he was used mostly as a pinch-hitter before being released.

The Mariners are shy on right-handed hitting outfielders and also have a need at designated hitter with Corey Hart sidelined another 3-5 weeks with a strained hamstring.