It’s Adams (not Bell) going from San Diego to Texas

SAN DIEGO – The Padres dealt a highly-regarded reliever Sunday, though it wasn’t the move everyone figured was coming.

The Padres traded eighth-inning specialist, right-hander Mike Adams to the Rangers for two Minor League pitchers, left-hander Robbie Erlin and right-hander Joe Wieland.

Adams, who turned 33 on Friday, is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA in 48 appearances. Since the 2009 season, Adams – regarded as one of the top set-up men in the game, has posted a 1.31 ERA in 155 appearances.

The trade came as a surprise to Adams, who admitted that he figured that closer Heath Bell would be traded on Sunday.

“I came in this morning prepared to be the closer. I honestly thought Heath (Bell) would be moved. This is a shock,” Adams said.

The Padres, who were seeking impact players with upside in any deal, land Erlin, a 20-year-old who was a third-round Draft pick in 2009. Erlin is 8-4 with a 3.34 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) between Class A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Frisco.

Wieland, 21, was a teammate of Erlin’s in Frisco. He made news on Friday for tossing a no-hitter against the Padres’ Double-A affiliate, San Antonio. Wieland is a combined 10-3 with a 1.80 in 21 games (20 starts) between Myrtle Beach and Frisco.

Wieland was a fourth-round pick in the 2008 Draft.

– Corey Brock