Padres Get Astros’ Redding

The Houston Astros traded pitcher Tim Redding and cash to the San Diego Padres for catcher Humberto Quintero on Monday.

Redding, 27, was 5-7 with a 5.72 earned-run average in 27 games for the Astros last season, including 17 starts.

Redding was 21-28 with a 4.75 ERA in four seasons with Houston. He was 10-14 with a team-leading 3.68 ERA in the Astro rotation in 2003.

Quintero, 25, hit .250 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in in 23 games for the Padres last year. At triple-A Portland, he hit .317 with five homers and 30 RBIs.

The Padres acquired Quintero in July 2002 as part of a trade that sent infielder D’Angelo Jimenez to the Chicago White Sox.

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The Washington Nationals put right-hander Tony Armas Jr. on the 15-day disabled list because of a right groin pull, the team’s first significant injury of spring training.

Armas was hurt Sunday, when he left his start against the New York Mets after one inning.

He sat out most of the last two seasons after major surgery on his pitching shoulder in May 2003.

Also, the Nationals acquired first baseman Carlos Torres from the Boston Red Sox to complete the deal that sent infielder Alejandro Machado to Boston on Feb. 15.

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Jim Thome had three hits, including a homer, in a minor league game, moving closer to returning to the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup. Thome has sat out the last six games because of a lower back strain.

Right-hander Vicente Padilla, sidelined all spring with triceps tendinitis, threw 40 pitches.