SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres released right-hander Bobby J. Jones on Wednesday because they need his rotation spot to continue auditioning young pitchers on their staff.

	Jones

Jones wouldn't have started again this season and would have gotten little work out of the bullpen, general manager Kevin Towers said.

"The likelihood of him getting the chance to pitch much more this year was probably real slim,'' Towers said. "We have several young kids we need to take a look at and help us make some decisions going into the winter and as we put together next year's 25-man roster.''

The Padres purchased the contract of right-hander Jason Shiell from Triple-A Portland, putting them in position to extend their major league record of 36 pitchers used in a season. Shiell, 25, will join the Padres in time for Friday's game at Denver.

The Padres, who've been last in the NL West since May 23, had known for some time that they weren't going to pick up Jones' $6.125 million option for 2003.

Jones (7-8, 5.50 ERA) said he understood the Padres' reasoning.

"These guys are the future. I know I'm not a part of that,'' he said. "They need this time of the season, when there's no pressure, you're not in the pennant race, to go out there and pitch and work on things and be seen by Towers and Bruce Bochy and the coaching staff. You don't need me out there changing everybody's rotation around.''

The Padres' pitching staff has been in upheaval all season because of injuries. Of the 15 players who made their big league debuts with the Padres this year, 11 were pitchers.

The Padres have settled on a rotation of Brian Lawrence, Brett Tomko, Adam Eaton and rookies Oliver Perez and Jake Peavy.

Lawrence and Tomko are the only two who haven't missed a start. Eaton came back on Sunday after sitting out a year while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery and was the 15th pitcher to start for the Padres this year.

Rookies Mike Bynum, Clay Condrey and Dennis Tankersley have made spot starts. Opening day starter Kevin Jarvis had surgery in mid-July to repair his right flexor tendon.

Jones, 32, started 3-1 but was on the disabled list three times this year, with rib-cage, elbow and back injuries. He was activated on Monday night and lasted just four innings against Colorado, allowing five runs and seven hits in four innings.

Last year, his first in San Diego, Jones barely avoided becoming the majors' first 20-game loser in 21 years, finishing with an 8-19 record and a 5.12 ERA.

"It was a great two years, although I would have liked to have pitched how I pitched early in my career when I was really successful,'' Jones said.

Jones came up with the New York Mets in 1994. He pitched a one-hitter in the Mets' clinching victory over San Francisco in the 2000 division series.

Jones, who has an 89-83 career record, said he'll decide this offseason whether he wants to keep pitching or retire.