Reds sign Cesar Izturis

The Cincinnati Reds and Cesar Izturis agreed to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to Spring Training, reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The 12-year veteran will compete for a bench spot.

Izturis, 32, spent 2012 with the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals and hit .241/.254/.343 with two home runs in 173 plate appearances. For his career, Izturis is a .255/.294/.323 hitter with 17 home runs. He was last a regular in 2010 with the Baltimore Orioles, when he hit .230/.277/.268. The Orioles acquired J.J. Hardy that offseason and sent Izturis to the bench.

Izturis came to the big leagues with the Blue Jays at the age of 21 before being traded to the Dodgers, when he became a regular in 2002. His best season with the bat came in 2004, when he hit .288/.330/.381 with four home runs. In 2006, the sure-handed shortstop was traded at the deadline to the Cubs for Greg Maddux.

With Zack Cozart starting at shortstop, Izturis will compete with Jason Donald and Emmanuel Burriss for a spot on the Reds bench.