SAN DIEGO (AP)—Being traded from the Chicago White Sox to his hometown San
Diego Padres couldn’t have been any more convenient for All-Star outfielder
Carlos Quentin.

Four years after trading Quentin from Arizona to the White Sox, new Padres
general manager Josh Byrnes is bringing him home.

Byrnes made his second bold move in two weeks when he acquired Quentin for
two prospects.

“Trading him is pretty high on my list of regrets,” Byrnes said. “That
group in Arizona had a lot of talent. Carlos always stood out for his intensity
and his style of play. Having a chance to get him back became very appealing
here this offseason.”

The trade is expected to bolster San Diego’s offense, which was dreadful as
the Padres finished last in the NL West at 71-91, 23 games behind the
Diamondbacks. Quentin has four consecutive 20-homer seasons, including 36 in
2008.

“Improving our offense is a priority this offseason and the acquisition of
Carlos gives us a proven middle-of-the-order bat,” Byrnes said. “We
specifically targeted Carlos because of his production and his hard-nosed style
of play.”

While Quentin started the last two seasons in right field for the White Sox,
he’s penciled into left field with the Padres.

The White Sox received minor league pitchers Simon Castro, a right-hander,
and Pedro Hernandez, a left-hander.

“San Diego came back and obviously put something on the table that
attracted us,” White Sox GM Ken Williams said. “Both of these guys are guys
that we can ultimately see, and we can see them very quickly here.”

Castro went 7-8 with a 5.63 ERA in 22 starts between Double-A San Antonio
and Triple-A Tucson last season.

“He will be the first to admit that last year he did not distinguish
himself amongst some of his peers that were also considered top prospects at the
time,” Williams said. “We’ve got to get him back there. Just one year ago you
wouldn’t have been able to get this type of guy.”

Williams said Dayan Viciedo goes into spring training as Chicago’s starting
right fielder.

On Dec. 17, Byrnes dealt right-hander Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds for
four players, including starter Edinson Volquez and Yonder Alonso, the leading
contender to start at first base.

The two moves reverse a recent Padres trend of dealing big leaguers for
prospects and shedding salary. Byrnes said the Padres were able to make these
deals because his predecessor, Jed Hoyer, did a good job of acquiring prospects
over the previous two years before he left to become GM of the Chicago Cubs.

“Talking to (CEO) Jeff Moorad, if we had ways to stretch our payroll, get
the right guys to be competitive in 2012, maybe be a surprise team in 2012, and
with that foundation that gives us a chance at real sustained success for a
number of years, that’s the ideal,” Byrnes said.

While GM of the Diamondbacks, Byrnes traded Quentin to the White Sox for
minor league first baseman Chris Carter in December 2007. The Diamondbacks had
taken Quentin in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft after he helped
Stanford reach the College World Series three straight times.

Byrnes said the Diamondbacks had a surplus of outfielders in 2007 and moving
Quentin helped build a trade package for Dan Haren, who was obtained from
Oakland 11 days after Quentin was traded to Chicago. Carter was one of six
players Arizona sent to Oakland in the Haren deal.

The Padres hit the fewest homers in the majors (91); had the lowest batting
average in the NL (.237); the second-highest strikeout total in the majors
(1,320); and scored only 593 runs, second-lowest in the NL last season.

Quentin attended grade school in suburban Chula Vista and was a three-sport
standout at University of San Diego High. He was chosen San Diego’s Male Athlete
of the Year in 2000.

He was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award during his last college
season, 2003.