 On December 31, 2011, Quentin was traded from the White Sox to his home town San Diego Padres for Simón Castro and Pedro Hernández.Quentin opened the 2012 season on the disabled list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus in March.He made his Padres debut on May 28, regularly batting in the clean-up position and playing left field or acting as DH in interleague games.