The Lancaster Barnstormers have added a slugging first baseman to their roster for the upcoming season.

Cesar Nicolas was signed by the 'Stormers after being acquired in a three-team deal that also involved Atlantic League rival York and Grand Prairie of the American Association.

But the signing of Nicolas does not rule out the return of Atlantic League MVP Tommy Everidge to Lancaster for the 2012 campaign.

"Tell the fans I have every intention of bringing Tommy back to play for the Barnstormers this season," 'Stormers skipper Butch Hobson said Monday by phone from from his home in Bakersfield, Calif.

"He's still making up his mind. He said he's not going to play in Mexico. We would like to see him get an affiliated deal. But if he doesn't, he has a place to play in Lancaster."

Efforts to reach Everidge on Monday night were unsuccessful.

Everidge, who made it to the majors in 2009 with the Oakland Athletics, led the league last season in home runs (28), hits (160), total bases (285) and doubles (41).

Everidge, whose .319 average was sixth in the league, led Lancaster to the Freedom Division's first-half title and the 'Stormers first playoff appearance since 2006.

Nicolas was a fifth-round draft choice by Arizona out of Vanderbilt in 2004. He batted .302 with 21 home runs for Class A South Bend in 2005, his first full season as a pro.

In 2009, he drove in 103 runs in 96 games for Grand Prairie before spending the end of the season playing for Hobson in Southern Maryland. He tallied four homers and nine RBIs in 10 games for the Blue Crabs at the end of '09.

Last season, he spent a short stint with Toledo, Detroit's Class AAA affiliate, before batting .353 in 84 games for Grand Prairie.

"He's a big home run, opposite-field guy," Hobson said of the 6-foot-4 right-handed hitter. "He's a big strong kid and he's hit everywhere he's been."

Lancaster received lefty reliever Ronnie Morales as the player-to-be-named to complete the deal that sent reliever Kris Regas to York last September. The 'Stormers then sent Morales to Grand Prairie for Nicolas.

Nicolas is the fifth Lancaster player under contract for the upcoming season. The Barnstormers have also signed pitchers Mark Brackman and Ching-Lung Lo and outfielders Blake Gailen and Adam Godwin for 2012.

Hobson, who had just recently returned home from participating in his second baseball fantasy camp this winter, said he expects to have at least 25 players signed for spring training, which starts in Lancaster April 16.

The Barnstormers open the season April 26 at Southern Maryland. They play their first home game on May 1 against the Somerset Patriots.

bwilson@lnpnews.com