PHOENIX -- In their third move in as many days, the Padres picked up right-handed reliever Kirby Yates off waivers from the Angels on Wednesday and added him to the big league roster. He'll work out of the bullpen in the middle innings.
"He's got a good live arm," manager Andy Green said before the Padres rallied for an 8-5 victory on Wednesday. "He's a smaller package guy with a three-pitch mix. It's a fastball that really jumps out of his hand. His short-arm stroke really gets on some guys."
In a corresponding move coming only hours before Wednesday's game against the D-backs, the Padres sent right-handed reliever Kevin Quackenbush back to Triple-A El Paso. Quackenbush had been recalled from the Chihuahuas on April 14.
Quackenbush made four appearances, allowing five hits, no runs and striking out eight in five innings of work, including a scoreless eighth inning in Tuesday night's 9-3 loss. Quackenbush hasn't walked a batter yet this season.
Green said it was tough to tell Quackenbush he had to go back to the Minors.
"Yeah, it stinks," Green said. "It's part of the job in baseball that's not fun, especially when it's a guy you and everyone in this clubhouse likes like Kevin Quackenbush. It's not fun, it's not fair. Baseball has never claimed to be a fair game.
"It happens. It's a transaction. In due time, Quack will be back with us, he'll be throwing the ball well for us."
Yates, a former member of the Rays and Yankees, made only one appearance for the Angels this season, allowing two runs on two hits in one inning to the Blue Jays on Friday night at Anaheim.
Yates had thrown in six games at Triple-A Salt Lake City before he was designated for assignment on Sunday. A native of Kauai, Hawaii, who now lives in nearby Chandler, Yates was home when the Padres deal was finalized.
"The last 24 hours, things had begun to settle down a little bit," he said. "I was home and I got to sleep in my own bed for a couple of days. I needed it because the travel the previous two or three days had been kind of hectic. But I'm excited to be here and do my part."
On Monday, the Padres put outfielder Travis Jankowski on the disabled list with a deep bruise in his right foot and recalled outfielder Jabari Blash from El Paso. On Tuesday, they recalled third baseman Cory Spangenberg and sent pitcher/catcher Christian Bethancourt to Triple-A to work on his pitching.
Green said Wednesday that the club was still waiting for Bethancourt to decide if he would agree to go down and develop his career as a pitcher.
Wednesday's move is already San Diego's 14th since Opening Day on April 5 in Los Angeles involving the Chihuahuas.