CHICAGO -- The Padres claimed catcher Hector Sanchez off waivers from the White Sox on Wednesday, moving Robbie Erlin -- who is set for Tommy John surgery -- to the 60-day DL to clear room on the 40-man roster.
Sanchez, 26, spent the past five seasons with the Giants before joining the White Sox this past offseason. He owns a career .238/.273/.343 slash line.
San Diego currently has two catchers with whom they're very comfortable -- starter Derek Norris and backup Christian Bethancourt, who homered and backstopped a shutout on Wednesday night. But manager Andy Green indicated that the Padres would be comfortable with three catchers on the roster for a bit.
"If that comes down to [carrying three catchers], yeah, I think you saw a guy whose bat we can use off the bench very consistently, in Bethancourt, if that's the way we choose to go," Green said.
A switch-hitter, Sanchez has struggled for much of the season, hitting just .143 between Triple-A Charlotte and the White Sox. He is out of options, meaning he'll report to Milwaukee for the Padres' weekend series against the Brewers -- although when exactly he'll do so remains unclear. Players claimed off waivers have a window of 72 hours to officially report and be added to the roster.
Perhaps pertinently, Sanchez has caught free agent Tim Lincecum for 265 2/3 innings -- more than any other hurler during his six-year career. The Padres were one of more than 20 clubs who scouted Lincecum's showcase last week and have expressed some interest in signing the veteran right-hander.
Mazzoni re-signed: Right-hander Cory Mazzoni, who was designated for assignment and released last month, re-signed with the Padres Wednesday on a Minor League deal. Mazzoni is currently rehabbing from shoulder surgery.