SAN DIEGO -- The Padres signed outfielder Austin Hays on Sunday and optioned infielder Gage Workman to Triple-A El Paso.
Hays has been sidelined much of this season by hamstring and calf injuries and played in only 12 games with the Chicago White Sox before being designated for assignment on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Hays is batting .233 with one homer and seven RBI.
Manager Craig Stammed called Hays "a good right-handed bench bat" who has hit left-handed pitching well during his career and can make occasional starts in left field.