Padres reinstate catcher Yasmani Grandal from Restricted List; Option catcher John Baker to AAA Tucson; DFA INF Edinson Rincon

SEATTLE – The San Diego Padres announced today that they have reinstated catcher Yasmani Grandal from the restricted list, have optioned catcher John Baker to AAA Tucson and designated infielder Edinson Rincon for assignment. Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.

Grandal, 24, recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson where he hit .306 (11-for-36) with three runs, three doubles and two RBI in nine games. Grandal was serving a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He made his Major League debut for the Padres last season, hitting .297 (57-for-192) with seven doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 36 RBI and 28 runs scored in 60 games. He split the 2012 season between San Diego and Triple-A Tucson. Began the season, hitting .335 (65-for-194) with 18 doubles, six home runs, 35 RBI and 40 runs scored in 56 games for Tucson. Grandal was acquired from Cincinnati along with RHP Edinson Volquez, INF Yonder Alonso and RHP Brad Boxberger in exchange for RHP Mat Latos, December 17, 2011.

Baker, 28, was hitting .150 (6-for-40) with two RBI in 16 games, including 12 starts, for the Padres this season. In parts of two seasons with the Padres, he is hitting .223 (52-for-233) with 17 runs, eight doubles, and 16 RBI in 79 games. He was acquired by the Padres from the Marlins in exchange for left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc on November 22, 2011.

Rincon, 22, has not appeared in a game this season after suffering an injury in minor league spring training camp. In six seasons in the Padres organization, Rincon hit .285 (517-for-1812) with 246 runs, 116 doubles, six triples, 40 home runs and 249 RBI in 484 games. Rincon was signed as a non-drafted free agent on May 24, 2007.