Padres could add more pitchers to roster

SAN DIEGO -- Believe or not, the Padres might not be done adding to their active roster.

On Tuesday, the team saw first baseman/outfielder Tommy Medica claimed off waivers by the Marlins, leaving them 39 players on their 40-man roster.

San Diego assistant general manager Josh Stein said before Tuesday's game with the Rockies that the team will likely add a player or two in the near future, giving them reinforcements for the final three-plus weeks of the regular season.

Don't be surprised if the players added are pitchers.

"We wanted to create a roster spot," Stein said. "… Obviously, [Triple-A] El Paso qualified for the playoffs and we're going to let that season play out. I guess we will see at least one [player], if not two more player moves before the end of the year."

The Padres have 32 players on the active roster.

The team has had a number of short outings from their starting pitchers of late and their relief corps has been taxed. Adding a pitcher or two makes sense.

The Padres haven't had a starting pitcher go beyond six innings in their last five games. On top of that, reliever Joaquin Benoit has been slowed recently by back spasms. Benoit didn't pitch Sunday or Monday and the Padres hoped to stay away from him Tuesday.

The Padres have 16 pitchers on the active roster, but Shawn Kelley has been out with a right-forearm strain since Sept. 2.

Another reliever, Brandon Maurer, is running out of time to make it back to the big leagues this season.

Maurer, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 10 with right-shoulder inflammation, played catch last week, but reported to the training staff that his shoulder didn't feel strong. He hasn't played catch since.