by Steve Carney

The Tampa Bay Rays Thursday made a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres, sending left-handed pitcher Chris Rearick out to the west coast in exchange for Triple-A infielder Vince Belnome.

Belnome, 24, is a left-handed hitter who has played at first, second, and third base in his four seasons in the minor leagues, hitting .300 / .414 / .487 over that period with 50 home runs and 245 runs batted in 372 games.

Rearick, a 41st round pick in 2010, went 4-4 with a 2.70 earned run average in 50 games between Single-A Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery in 2012.  The 25-year-old struck out 85 hitters and walked just 23 in 70 innings of work.