Free agent Alex Avila reportedly opts for Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a two-year, $8.25 million deal with free-agent catcher Alex Avila, according to multiple reports.

Avila batted .239 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 35 games for the Chicago Cubs after being acquired in a midseason trade with the Detroit Tigers last year. The nine-year veteran catcher hit .274 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 77 games for the Tigers before that.

Avila, the son of Tigers general manager Al Avila, had played all but one of his nine major league seasons in Detroit. He was brought in by the Cubs to spell budding star Willson Contreras, as the last-place Tigers moved to add some quality, young position players to the organization.

Detroit drafted Avila in 2008, and he hit .242 with 66 homers and 282 RBIs with the Tigers from 2009-15 before signing with the Chicago White Sox after the 2015 season. Avila had career highs in 2011 with a .295 batting average, 19 homers and 82 RBIs, earning his only All-Star selection thus far.

The 31-year-old Avila brings along 35 games of postseason experience, including Detroit's 2012 World Series loss to San Francisco.

Avila would compete for playing time behind the plate in Arizona with holdovers Jeff Mathis and Chris Herrmann.