Padres add Dustin Harris by selecting his contract, shifting a pair of roster spots

The San Diego Padres announced a set of active-roster changes on Monday that center on a new position player look. The club selected the contract of outfielder Dustin Harris, bringing him onto the 40-man roster and into the mix for the Padres’ late-season game planning.

To make the corresponding roster adjustment, the Padres optioned infielder Sung-Mun Song to Triple-A El Paso. In MLB terms, an option to Triple-A generally indicates that a team prefers a player at the upper level of the organization but is able to keep him in the developmental pipeline and preserve a spot for another player at the major-league level.

The other half of the dominoes is a pitching move tied to the 40-man roster crunch. The Padres transferred right-hander Lucas Giolito to the 60-day injured list. That designation clears an injured-list opening on the 40-man while also pushing the recovery window further out on the calendar.

The timing is notable because 40-man space is typically at a premium this time of year, when teams balance everyday lineup needs against the practical requirement to maintain flexibility for bullpen usage, matchup planning, and late-season call-ups. By selecting Harris and optioning Song, San Diego is rebalancing its position-player mix while keeping the organizational plan intact.

For Harris, the change represents a fresh opportunity at the highest level. The Padres’ decision to add him suggests the club believes he can contribute in the outfield, whether through defensive matchups, base-running tempo, or providing another bat to support manager decision-making.

Song’s optioning to El Paso, meanwhile, indicates the club still values his role in the broader system, but is choosing to deploy a different combination on the active roster at present. Players in that position often return once another roster opening appears or if the team’s needs shift due to performance, health, or matchup considerations.

With Giolito moved to the 60-day IL, the Padres are also managing the pitching staff’s near-term depth. Although the move is procedural, it can carry strategic implications for how the bullpen is configured and how frequently younger or fringe options are called upon as the club works through the remainder of the season.