The Padres granted veteran reliever Casey Janssen his release Thursday, reducing their major league camp to 43 players.

Janssen, 34, signed a minor league contract with the Padres on Feb. 20. The deal included an invitation to big-league spring training, inserting the right-hander into what appeared to be a wide-open bullpen competition.

The picture has gained clarity in recent days, it becoming apparent that a place for Janssen was unlikely. Early this month, the Padres added another experienced reliever, lefty Matt Thornton, on a non-roster deal. Earlier this week, right-hander Brandon Maurer was shifted from a rotation candidate to a bullpen arm. Setup candidate Nick Vincent is out of minor league options. If he does not win a starting job, left-hander Drew Pomeranz will be another key reliever for San Diego.

Padres manager Andy Green also has indicated closer Fernando Rodney, long reliever Carlos Villanueva and possible setup man Kevin Quackenbush are probables for the opening-day roster.


Green spoke with Janssen Thursday morning.

“It was extremely professional,” Green said. “Casey did everything that was asked of him, and it just came down to a matter of opportunity and wanting to be honest and forthright with him. He requested his release after the conversation.

“With Maurer going back to the bullpen, the emergence of Thornton and a lot of these young arms, (Janssen) was getting further and further behind the eight-ball. And out of respect to someone like himself who’s done so much in the game and been so successful, rather than hold him to his last day of his (opt-out) clause, we granted him his release.”

For $1.5 million, the Washington Nationals bought out their end of Janssen’s $7 million mutual option after last season. He’d gone 2-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 48 appearances, mostly in setup duty. The previous three seasons, he had closed games for Toronto, posting ERAs of 2.54, 2.56 and 3.94.


In seven Cactus League innings this spring, Janssen allowed four runs on 12 hits.

Norris to catch Ross

With catcher Christian Bethancourt out of minor league options and, barring a trade, Austin Hedges likely to begin the season in Triple-A, Green said he expects starting backstop Derek Norris to catch right-hander Tyson Ross on opening day.

Following his call-up last May, Hedges caught the majority of Ross’ starts, though he did not play much more than once every five games.

Hedges, who has all his minor league options left, entered Thursday hitting .348 (8-for-23) with two home runs and eight RBIs in Cactus League action. Seeing sporadic playing time, he batted just .168 with three home runs in 137 big-league at-bats last season.


“He’s had an unbelievable camp, made a very good impression,” Green said. “He receives very well, blocks very well. He’s swinging the bat, I think anybody would say, better than he ever has, and the future’s incredibly bright for him, and we’re thrilled that he’s a part of the Padres organization.

“That said, he’s probably not going to be there for 30 or 40 games off the bench this year if that’s the case, so he’s clearly not going to be Tyson Ross’ personal catcher. I believe that the relationship with Tyson and Derek Norris is very strong. I would expect opening day, Derek’s catching Tyson. ... I think he feels very comfortable with Derek, and I appreciate the effort D-No’s made on every pitcher this spring.”

Norris, who became arbitration-eligible this year, will make $2.925 million in 2016. He has been the subject of trade rumors, most notably involving the Texas Rangers, but there have been no indications of anything imminent.

“I think he’s been tremendous this spring,” Green said. “I think he’s caught very well, so I think Tyson’s going to be completely comfortable with him back there.”


Jankowski, Wallace on mend

Center fielder Travis Jankowski, who sustained a left ankle contusion Monday, went through workouts Thursday and is expected to travel with the Padres for this weekend’s exhibition games in Mexico City. Meanwhile, backup first baseman Brett Wallace, who’s been dealing with a sore right foot, continued getting at-bats in minor league games Wednesday.

“He’s feeling good,” Green said of Jankowski. “I don’t think he’s 100 percent by any stretch. The expectation is he travels with us to Mexico right now, barring any kind of setback.”

Wallace hasn’t appeared in a Cactus League game since March 13. He is staying in Arizona, where the Padres will play split-squad games Friday through Sunday. Bench coach Mark McGwire will manage those games.