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Brandon Morrow says he decided to join San Diego because they gave him a better option of being a starterChris Young/The Canadian Press

The San Diego Padres have signed free agent right-hander Brandon Morrow to a one-year contract reportedly worth $2.5-million (all figures US)

Morrow can earn up to $5-million in bonuses for starting next season and $1-million for relieving. He says he had offers from teams to be both a starter and a reliever but in the end his preference was to join a rotation.

"There were a lot of teams that checked in and tried to work something out, to see if I wanted to go the reliever route," Morrow told padres.com. "But that wasn't something I wanted to consider. I feel I have a lot of good years of starting left in me."

Morrow pitched in 13 games, including six starts, for Toronto in 2014, going 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA. He has a 42-43 record and 4.28 ERA in parts of eight big league seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Blue Jays. He has been on the disabled list at least once in each of the last four seasons and has pitched just over 87 innings the last two years due to a right forearm strain and a torn tendon sheath in his right hand.

Morrow became a free agent after the Blue Jays declined a $10-million option for 2015.

To make room on the 40-man roster after Tuesday's deal, the Padres designated left-hander Juan Oramas for assignment.

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