Nicholas announced on his personal Twitter page Monday that he's elected to retire.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox in mid-April but elected to retire rather than fight his way back to the big leagues. He got into 37 games with the Rangers in 2016 and 2017, hitting .252/.300/.456 with four homers.

Nicholas agreed to a minor-league deal with the White Sox earlier this month, Kegan Lowe of Baseball America reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nicholas attended spring training with the Rockies but was released from the organization at the conclusion of camp. With top catching prospects Zack Collins and Seby Zavala both on hand at Triple-A Charlotte, the White Sox may elect to send Nicholas to Double-A Birmingham.

Nicholas signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Sunday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old backstop spent all of last season in the Padres organization. He slashed .291/.353/.485 with 16 homers and 83 RBI at Triple-A El Paso, but was unable to crack the big-league roster at any point. He has a .756 OPS in 110 MLB plate appearances in his career, though as things stand now, Nicholas figures to largely provide catching depth for the Rockies behind Chris Iannetta, Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy.

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

EDGE Analysis

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Nicholas went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI in Thursday's 9-8 win over the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Nicholas hit a two-run shot in the first inning and forced in what turned out to be the winning run on a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. The catcher has now homered in each of his past two games played while driving in six runs over that span. Nicholas has already made six starts behind the plate this month and will take an even larger share of the work away from Robinson Chirinos if he continues to produce at the dish.

Nicholas went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Following a 21-minute rain delay in the first inning, Nicholas kicked off the scoring for the evening with a three-run blast off Mike Fiers in the second, marking his first long ball of the season. Nicholas was picking up his second start behind the plate in three games, and his performance Saturday only gives manager Jeff Banister further reason to hand the 29-year-old more regular at-bats. Robinson Chirinos has served as the team's primary catcher following the July 30 trade of Jonathan Lucroy, but with a 5-for-25 (.200 average) showing at the dish since that time, he may have seen his hold on the role loosen.