In order to make room for Jesse Orosco on their 40-man roster, Minnesota designated Todd Sears for assignment, giving them ten days to trade or release him if he failed to pass through waivers unclaimed. On Tuesday, the Twins sent Sears to San Diego for SS-S Alex Garcia.

The Padres signed Garcia out of the Dominican Republic as Luis Garcia in 2001. He spent last year at Idaho Falls in the Rookie-level Pioneer League and then had his name and age updated this off-season. The 21-year-old began the season at A Fort Wayne in the Midwest League, where he hit .153 with a .227 OBP and .220 SLG on 9 H, 2 2B, and 1 3B with a 6:14 BB:K and 2/4 SB% in 59 at-bats, before San Diego demoted him to Eugene in the Short-Season Northwest League. At the time of the trade, he was hitting .271 with a .343 OBP and .307 SLG on 52 H, 3 2B, and 2 3B with a 16:45 BB:K and 14/22 SB% in 192 AB at Eugene.