SAN DIEGO -- The Padres officially announced their one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Carlos Villanueva on Thursday. Villanueva's deal is for $1.5 million for 2016.
San Diego has been looking to add relief help, especially after dealing away Craig Kimbrel and Joaquin Benoit earlier this offseason and deciding Brandon Maurer would move to the rotation.
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One of the things that the Padres like about Villanueva is his ability to pitch in a number of roles.
Villanueva, 32, had a career revival of sorts a year ago with the Cardinals, as he posted a 2.95 ERA in 35 games over 61 innings as a long reliever. A veteran of parts of 10 seasons with the Brewers, Blue Jays, Cubs and Cards, Villanueva allowed only 50 hits in 2015 and had 55 strikeouts to go with two saves.
Villanueva has made 76 starts in his career, including 16 with Toronto in 2012. He has pitched better as a reliever, posting a 3.47 ERA compared to a 5.00 mark as a starter.

A year ago with the Cardinals, Villanueva was especially tough on left-handed batters, holding them to a .183 average.
Also on Thursday, the Padres announced that left-handed pitcher Ryan Buchter has been added to the 40-man roster. San Diego signed Buchter to a Minor League deal in December, but then added him to the 40-man when a foreign team expressed interest in signing him.
Pitcher Marcos Mateo was released so that he could sign a contract with Hanshin of Japan's Central League. Mateo had a 4.00 ERA in 26 games with the Padres last season.