Padres designate slugger Nelson Cruz for assignment

The San Diego Padres designated slugger Nelson Cruz for assignment on Tuesday in a series of moves.

The designated hitter, who is a seven-time All-Star and in his 19th major league season, is batting .245 with five home runs and 23 RBIs in 49 games.

In other moves, the Padres placed right-handed starter Michael Wacha (shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Sunday) and optioned right-hander Domingo Tapia to Triple-A El Paso.

Wacha, who missed a start last month with his shoulder injury, is 8-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 15 starts this season, his first in San Diego.

Left-hander Jose Castillo, right-hander Matt Waldron and infielder Matthew Batten were recalled from El Paso in corresponding moves.

Cruz, 43, signed a one-year contract with the Padres in the offseason.

He has 464 home runs in his career.

Reuters contributed to this report.