SAN DIEGO -- The Padres traded right-handed pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne to the Orioles on Thursday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jean Cosme, a 19-year-old who comes with an intriguing arm.
By moving Despaigne, the Padres created a spot on the 40-man roster, which was quickly filled when the team officially announced the one-year deal with veteran right-handed pitcher Fernando Rodney.
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Rodney had agreed to terms on a deal two weeks ago, pending a physical. His deal comes with a club option for 2017.
As for Cosme, he was the Orioles' 17th-round Draft pick in 2014. He's 5-5 with a 4.73 ERA in parts of two seasons in the Minors and has 70 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings.
San Diego general manager A.J. Preller said the Padres saw Cosme last season and have spent time on scouting reports in the past few months.
"He throws strikes, [we] saw 90-94 [mph], an athletic build and a good delivery," Preller said. "He has the ability to throw the ball over the plate. He's a guy to add to low-level pitching prospects that we have."
Preller said that it's likely Cosme will compete for a rotation spot with Class A Fort Wayne.
Despaigne, who was signed to a Minor League deal for $1 million by then-general manager Josh Byrnes in the spring of 2014, has a 4.74 ERA in 50 big league games, including 34 starts.
Despaigne opened his Padres career by throwing seven scoreless innings in his big league debut against the Giants on June 23, 2014. Four starts later, against the Mets, Despaigne opened the game with 7 2/3 hitless innings.

After posting a 3.36 ERA in 16 starts in 2014, Despaigne struggled last season, posting a 5.80 ERA in 34 games, including 18 starts.
"I think Odrisamer was a valuable guy in that he could fill a number of roles," said Preller. "But I think we've got some options that can take that spot."
Despaigne would have likely competed for a long reliever spot on the team, but the Padres have added several arms this winter who likely rate ahead of him at this point.