Padres signed C Pedro Severino to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
The deal, which was first reported in mid-December, is now official. It’s a split contract for Severino, who will earn $1.95 million this season, if he’s added to the Padres’ major league roster. The 29-year-old backstop served an 80-game suspension last season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance and wound up appearing in just eight contests for the Brewers. He’ll compete for a backup catcher role in San Diego this spring in the Cactus League.