SAN DIEGO -- Days after being granted his release by the Rangers, veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Padres.
Guthrie, 36, arrived in San Diego on Friday night and is slated to debut with the club as a reliever in Saturday's exhibition against the White Sox. He will begin the season at Triple-A El Paso.
"Obviously he brings a lot of experience -- he's got [12-plus] years of service time," Green said. "... He's a high-character guy -- the kind of guy we've been targeting since the beginning."
Guthrie, who lost out on the battle for Texas' fifth-starter spot, would most likely begin the season with Triple-A El Paso. He went 8-8 with a 5.95 ERA in 30 appearances, including 24 starts, for Kansas City last season.
With plenty of uncertainty surrounding the back of the Padres' rotation, Guthrie figures to serve as insurance for the starting five. He posted a 5.14 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP in Cactus League play.
Guthrie's addition would mitigate the loss of right-hander Dan Straily, who was claimed off waivers by the Reds earlier on Friday. Straily was acquired on Monday in a trade with the Astros for catcher Erik Kratz.
Without a place on the roster, Kratz would have been let go by San Diego. The Straily trade essentially allowed for the club to give him a four-day tryout, while at the same time attempting to work out another deal. Nothing came to fruition.
Injury update
Brett Wallace (sore right foot) is slated to play in this weekend's exhibition games, essentially cementing his status on the Opening Day roster. The club had been holding the backup first baseman out of Major League action so any potential disabled list stint could be backdated.
"We feel good enough about his health to put him in a game, get him going," Green said.
Alexi Amarista (jammed left shoulder) is also feeling much better and could see playing time this weekend, too. His status for Opening Day remains in question -- as does whether he'll begin the season on the Opening Day roster.
Amarista is battling for one of three seemingly available bench jobs. He still has one Minor League option remaining.