SAN DIEGO -- The day the Padres traded for Francisco Mejía, they were adamant: Mejia was a catcher. They'd acquired him to play catcher. End of story.

A year later, the Padres remain adamant that Mejia is a catcher. But there's evidently some flexibility in that statement. With Franmil Reyes ailing, the 23-year-old backstop received his first career start in left field Saturday night.

Mejia hadn't taken any pregame reps in the outfield until Saturday afternoon. He might not return to the outfield for a while either. Reyes was available to pinch-hit and could return to the lineup Sunday.

"It's something that we don't want to become a focus for him," Padres manager Andy Green said of Mejia in the outfield. "We want the catching to be the focus. He'll catch tomorrow. ... He's a catcher who's stepping out to the outfield for a day because he's done it in the past."

In the Padres' 5-1 win over the Giants on Saturday, Mejia played five innings in left before being replaced and had one ball hit to him: Stephen Vogt's flyout in the fourth that Mejia nearly turned into a double play when he appeared to throw out Mike Yastrzemski trying to advance to third. A replay review overturned the call.

It's fair to wonder when -- or even if -- Mejia will return to the outfield. But it's just as fair to wonder whether Mejia's presence in the outfield Saturday is the start of a larger long-term plan.

San Diego doesn't have much flexibility behind the plate, where Austin Hedges and Mejia have spent the past month and a half splitting time. Right now, both are playing well, and the Padres envision more nights like this when they'd like to get both bats into the lineup.

"Austin has swung a good bat lately, too, and he's done a nice job behind the plate," Green said. "Franky has done a nice job here recently as well. We're looking for ways to score runs."

Hedges is arguably the game's top defensive backstop. Logically, that leaves Mejia as the catcher to switch positions when the Padres want both in the lineup.

"I get it," said Mejia, who noted he was surprised when told he'd be sliding to the outfield for a day. "When I can help in the lineup, it makes sense."

Sure, it makes sense when Reyes is banged up. But the current dynamic is unlikely to change unless the Padres trade one of their two slugging corner outfielders -- Reyes or Hunter Renfroe. Of course, both Reyes and Renfroe have been the subject of plenty of trade speculation. It's likely San Diego deals an outfielder -- if not next week, then during the offseason.

If Reyes or Renfroe were to be dealt, that could open up something of a timeshare in the other corner outfield spot. The Padres have no shortage of long-term options -- notably Josh Naylor, Wil Myers, Travis Jankowski and Franchy Cordero.

But if Mejia could play the outfield once or twice a week, he could catch another two or three games per week, keeping his bat in the lineup somewhat regularly, without sacrificing Hedges' defense.

At this point, Mejia's potential as a part-time outfielder is conjecture. The timing of the move was almost certainly coincidental.

Still, it's possible the events of the next five days leading up to the Trade Deadline necessitate Mejia's return there.

Noteworthy

• The Padres traded utility man Jose Pirela to Philadelphia for cash considerations Saturday, five days after designating Pirela for assignment. In parts of four seasons with San Diego, Pirela batted .258/.311/.393 with 16 homers.

Pirela was one of the Padres' best hitters in 2017, when he posted an .837 OPS over 83 games. He never replicated that success, however. And with a wealth of outfield and second-base options, Pirela was the odd man out in a roster crunch when the Padres promoted a handful of their top prospects.

• The Padres recalled left-hander Robbie Erlin to bolster their bullpen, optioning left-hander Logan Allen to Triple-A El Paso. Allen, the team's No. 7 prospect, had struggled in a swing-man role, posting a 6.75 ERA in eight appearances. He will serve as a starter in El Paso, though the club might look to limit his pitch count and give him relief appearances as well.

• Green wouldn't comment on the nature of Reyes' ailment, though Reyes took batting practice as usual with the club. The Padres have been very cognizant of giving Reyes extra rest during the season -- more so than with other players.

"At times when people don't know why he isn't in the lineup: Rest is important for him," Green said. "... We don't see him as the guy who goes out 10 straight days in a 10-straight-day stretch, and starts all 10 games. He's just a bigger-bodied guy, and, probably, a day off serves him very well."