MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins announced a trade Friday and also recalled one of their prized prospects back to the Major Leagues.

Outfielder Brian Buchanan was traded to the San Diego Padres for minor-league shortstop Jason Bartlett. Outfielder/third baseman Michael Cuddyer was recalled from Triple-A Edmonton to replace Buchanan on the 25-man roster.

While not being known for his defensive prowess, Buchanan won the starting right fielder's job out of Spring Training this season. But he spent time on the disabled list in April with a back injury and struggled to produce offensively after returning to action. The 26-year-old batted .252 (34-for-135) with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 44 games.

The emergence and success of young outfielders Dustan Mohr and Bobby Kielty significantly reduced Buchanan's playing time, prompting a move by General Manager Terry Ryan.

"We didn't have enough at-bats for Kielty, Mohr and Buchanan," Ryan said. "It made sense to bring up Cuddyer. It gives us flexibility."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that while Buchanan was well liked by everyone, it was still a neccessary move.

"It's always tough to see guys leave that everybody in the clubhouse respects and has a good time with," Gardenhire said. "What we're all trying to do here is make our club better and this gives Buck and opportunity to go somewhere and maybe play on a consistent basis when we couldn't give him that time." The 23-year-old Cuddyer also brings power potential off the bench for Minnesota. He was batting .311 (92-for-296) with 20 homers and 51 RBIs in 76 games this season with Edmonton. He was also leading the club with a .595 slugging percentage, was named Twins’ Minor League Player of the Month for June and played in the Class AAA All-Star Game held July 10 at Oklahoma City.

"He's one of our most talented kids," Ryan said. "He's accomplished a lot in our minor league system. He's having a solid year and has earned a promotion." Cuddyer, a Twins' first-round selection (ninth overall) in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft, rose through the organization as a third baseman. But he learned the outfield this past offseason and competed for the right-field job with Buchanan, Kielty and Mohr at Spring Training. He was sent down in order for him to get a consistent amount of at-bats.

According to Ryan, Cuddyer will see time in the outfield as well as at third and first base. He had one previous stint in Minnesota, as a September call-up last season, when he batted .222 (4-for-18) in eight games.

Gardenhire said he will have no trouble finding space for Cuddyer in the lineup.

"I don't want him to sit on the bench here and watch other people play," Gardenhire said. "That's not why I brought him up here. I'll get him plenty of at-bats just like I give everybody."

With left-hander Kenny Rogers pitching for Texas Saturday against the Twins, Gardenhire said it was likely Cuddyer could start.

The third part of the roster move, Bartlett, was a 13th-round selection by the Padres in the 2001 draft out of the University of Oklahoma. He was batting .250 (77-for-308) with one homer, 33 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 75 games for Class A Lake Elsinore.

Bartlett, 22, will report to the Twins' Class A affiliate at Fort Myers.