Padres sign RHP Ross Ohlendorf to Major League contract and designate RHP Matt Palmer for assignment

The San Diego Padres today announced they have signed right-handed pitcher Ross Ohlendorf to a Major League contract and have designated right-handed pitcher Matt Palmer for assignment. Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.

Ohlendorf, 29, has gone 4-3 with a 4.61 ERA (27 ER/52.2 IP) and 37 strikeouts against 15 walks over 10 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket in the Boston Red Sox organization this season. Over parts of five Major League seasons with the New York Yankees (2007-08) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2008-11), he has gone 14-28 with a 4.77 ERA (208 ER/392.2 IP) in 95 games (64 starts). A native of Austin, Tex., and former Princeton Tiger, Ohlendorf was originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a fourth-round selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

Palmer, 33, made three appearances for the Padres this year, posting a 9.00 ERA (2 ER/2.0 IP). He had made seven starts for Tucson prior to having his contract selected on May 20, going 4-2 with a 4.64 ERA (17 ER/33.0 IP). Signed by the Padres as a minor league free agent on December 1, 2011, Palmer has gone 13-7 with a 4.56 ERA (94 ER/184.1 IP) in 63 Major League games (20 starts) over parts of four seasons with the San Francisco Giants (2008), Los Angeles Angels (2009-11) and Padres (2012).