SAN DIEGO -- The Padres optioned left-handed reliever Ryan Buchter to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday afternoon, amid a handful of roster moves that included optioning Nick Noonan back to El Paso, and recalling infielder/outfielder Patrick Kivlehan and left-handed pitcher Keith Hessler.
The decision to send down Buchter comes after a week in which his spin rate was down, and a Friday night outing where Padres manager Andy Green noticed some fatigue from the 29-year-old.
"I think Ryan Buchter, when he got out there he was obviously like, he's not as strong as he was earlier in the year," Green said after Friday night's win over the D-backs.