Bone bruise might force Quentin to DL

SAN DIEGO -- Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin is a candidate to open the season on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his left knee.

Manager Bud Black told reporters before Friday's exhibition game against the Indians that a disabled-list stint is a "possibility" for Quentin, who injured the knee while making a sliding catch in the outfield on March 16 and last played in a game on March 24.

"His knee has been acting up a little bit, he's not going to be in there tonight [Friday] and we're going to continue to evaluate it. It's been bothering him for a few days. It sort of reared itself the last couple of days. "

Quentin hit .152 in 33 at-bats this spring, as the team brought him along slowly after he had right knee surgery in September. That marked the third surgery on his right knee since March 2012.

The Padres will likely wait until Saturday or possibly right up until the deadline on Sunday to set their 25-man roster to see what Quentin's status is.

The Padres could keep two of the following three players: Tommy Medica, Xavier Nady or Kyle Blanks. Nady and Blanks have extensive outfield experience, while Medica started learning the position during Spring Training. However, Medica, who hit .333 with 22 hits and three home runs this spring, might be on the team at any rate.

Outfielder Chris Denorfia, who last played in a Cactus League game on March 18, stayed back in Arizona on Thursday and played in a Minor League game. He estimated that he got "seven or eight at-bats" in the game. He thinks he will be fine for Sunday's Opening Night game against the Dodgers.

"It's gone as how the training staff hoped it would," Denorfia said.