Brett Nicholas C

Nicholas was traded to the Padres on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Nicholas will report to Triple-A El Paso. The 29-year-old failed to crack the Rangers' Opening Day roster out of spring training and was taken off the club's 40-man in early March. Nicholas has played in 37 major-league games over the past two years and will serve as organizational depth for San Diego this season.

Nicholas cleared waivers and will return to the Rangers as a non-roster invitee, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Nicholas was waived when the Rangers signed Tim Lincecum. The 29-year-old can continue to compete for the team's backup catcher job as a non-roster invitee, though he's likely behind Juan Centeno, who remains on the 40-man roster. Nicholas will more likely return to Triple-A and wait for an injury to Centeno or starting catcher Robinson Chirinos. He hit .311/.353/.469 for Triple-A Round Rock last season so could provide decent numbers if he ends up with any playing time.

The Rangers designated Nicholas for assignment Wednesday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic Dallas reports.

The transaction comes on the heels of Texas announcing the signing of reliever Tim Lincecum, who will assume Nicholas' spot on the 40-man roster. Nicholas had been in contention for the Rangers' backup catching gig, but assuming he goes unclaimed off waivers or isn't traded elsewhere, he'll likely remain in the thick of the competition for the role with Juan Centeno.

Nicholas went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Wednesday's 12-2 loss to the Astros.

Nicholas was making just his eighth appearance and fifth start of September, during which he's gone 6-for-20 at the dish. Though the Rangers are eliminated from playoff contention, it's not expected that manager Jeff Banister will turn away from Robinson Chirinos as his primary catcher over the team's final four games. Nicholas will at least have a decent chance at starting in the season finale against the Athletics on Sunday, when the Rangers will be playing a day game after a night game.

Nicholas went 1-for-3 with a base hit in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Astros.

Nicholas started behind the plate while regular backstop Robinson Chirinos rested for the day game, marking the former's second appearance since Aug. 20. With the Rangers in the thick of the American League wild-card race, it's expected that the hot-hitting Chirinos will start at catcher in just about every scenario except day games after night games, so don't expect Nicholas' at-bats to pick up until Texas is eliminated.