PEORIA, Ariz. — The Padres on Tuesday told left-handed reliever Matt Thornton he will make the opening-day roster. They also paid a retention bonus to right-handed starter Brandon Morrow.
Thornton and Morrow both arrived in camp on minor league deals. Due to their amounts of major league service time, the Padres had until noon Tuesday to decide on their statuses.
Thornton has given up multiple runs in three consecutive Cactus League outings, but the 39-year-old brings experience to a mostly unproven bullpen. Thornton joins a relief corps that will at least include Fernando Rodney, Carlos Villanueva and Brandon Maurer.