Medica was claimed off waivers by the Marlins on Tuesday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Medica was DFA'd by the Padres, and he'll now join the Marlins after hitting .259 with 39 RBI in 100 Triple-A games this season. He won't initially report to Miami, so at this point it's unclear where he'll land for the rest of the year with the Triple-A season conclude.

Medica was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports.

Medica had been having a very strong showing in the spring -- which had been good enough to earn him a big league roster spot last season -- but will begin the season back in the minors. The 26-year-old should still be in line for a call up in the earlier part of the season, serving as a utility option at first base or in the outfield.

Medica is batting .500 with four home runs and 11 RBI through 30 at-bats this spring.

Medica is best suited to play left field or first base, but the Padres have big money invested in their new outfield and a long list of players vying for time at first. Still, Medica was able to earn a roster spot coming out of camp last year due to an excellent spring. His .500 batting average and team-leading four home runs this spring give him a good shot at making the Opening Day roster this season, although it'll likely be in a utility capacity. One important development for Medica this spring has been a decrease in strikeouts. He struck out in nearly 30 percent of his 240 at-bats last season. This spring, he has scaled that number down to 20 percent and has struck out once in his last nine at bats.

Medica was 1-for-1 with a single and a walk Wednesday against Colorado.

Much like last year, Medica is having a strong spring training. He has 12 hits in 22 AB's (.545 AVG) with two home runs and seven RBI.

Medica is 3-for-5 through San Diego's first two spring training games.

Medica is vying for the first base spot with the big league club this spring, but has an uphill battle. All signs point to incumbent Yonder Alonso retaining the starting role barring an injury. Still, if Medica has a good spring this year like he did in 2014, he could earn himself a spot on the major league roster.

Medica is out of the lineup Thursday against the Giants, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Medica has made three straight starts in left field for manager Bud Black, but all three of those contests have been against left-handed pitching. With righty Yusmeiro Petit taking the hill Thursday for the opposing Giants, Black will instead get the left-handed bat of Smith back in the lineup.

Medica blasted a three-run homer, his ninth of the year, in a 2-for-3 effort Wednesday against the Rockies.

The home run was only Medica's second since August 3. The 26-year-old is hitting just .219 over 137 at-bats dating back to July 1.

Medica is out of the lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks.

Medica will sit for the fifth time in the team's last six games, and despite his .821 OPS the month of August, it looks like he'll be deployed primarily off the bench for the time being.

Medica remains out of the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Wednesday's absence will mark Medica's fourth in a row, but he's come off the bench in each of the last three games so an injury does not appear to be in play. Apparently, manager Bud Black just does not feel Medica is deserving of regular time, despite the fact he's hit .273/.347/.545 with three homers this month.

Medica is not in the lineup Tuesday.

It seems odd whenever the Padres sit one of the few players who has actually been hitting, but Medica will indeed be out of the starting lineup for the third straight day. Jacob Goebbert will get the start at first base.

Medica is out of the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals.

Yonder Alonso's placement on the DL earlier in the week with a forearm injury has opened up playing time at first base, and Medica is expected to serve as the primary option at the position moving forward. Jacob Goebbert will draw a start Saturday against right-hander Shelby Miller, but look for Medica to be available off the bench and back in the lineup Sunday.

Medica will likely become the Padres' regular first baseman following Yonder Alonso's (forearm) placement on the 15-day DL. He's in Thursday's lineup at first base, batting second in the order.

Medica was squeezed out of playing time in the corner outfield after the recent promotion of Rymer Liriano, but it didn't take long on him to find a more permanent place to play. The 26-year-old has been better than most of the batters in the Padres' ugly lineup when given at-bats this season, producing a .266/.321/.458 line.

Medica (head) is back in the Padres' lineup Tuesday against the Rockies.

An errant Francisco Liriano pitch plunked Medica in the head Saturday, and while he was quickly cleared of a concussion, the Padres understandably wanted to give him a day to be safe. Medica has pushed his season line to .276/.330/.476 with an 11-for-25 start to August, and manager Bud Black has decided to slot him into the two-hole Tuesday for the first time this season.

Medica (head) remains out of the lineup Monday vs. the Rockies.

Though the Padres have deemed Medica fine after he was struck on the head by a pitch Saturday, he'll still be on the bench for the second straight game. On a positive note, he was able to step in to pitch hit on Sunday, doubling in his lone at-bat.

Medica (head) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Pirates.

As expected, Medica will sit Sunday after being hit in the head by a pitch Saturday night. Fortunately, Medica passed his concussion tests, but the team could take precaution and give Medica another day or two to shake the cobwebs. Alexi Amarista is starting in left field Sunday.

Medica (head) is not expected to be in the lineup Sunday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Medica was subjected to the battery of tests mandated by the league' concussion protocol after being drilled in the head by a pitch Saturday night, and fortunately he checked out fine. He said Sunday morning that he was feeling OK, but manager Bud Black is expected to exercise caution and hold him out for the finale against Pittsburgh. Seth Smith, Abraham Almonte and Jeff Francoeur are all options to play left field.

Medica checked out OK after being hit in the head by a pitch in Saturday's game against the Pirates, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Upon being hit, Medica stayed on his feet and was seen smiling as he talked to manager Bud Black and the medical staff on the field. He'll be monitored for late symptoms in the coming days, but Medica appears to be OK.

Medica was removed from Saturday's game in the seventh inning after being hit in the head by a pitch.

The removal is considered precautionary, as Medica stayed on his feet after being hit, and was smiling while talking to the Padres' trainer and manager Bud Black while being evaluated.

Medica is out of the Padres' lineup Friday against the Pirates.

With two more hits Wednesday, Medica is now 10-for-21 with three homers to begin August. Even with the recent hot streak, manager Bud Black seems reluctant to rely on Medica as an everyday player. Alexi Amarista will draw the start in left and bat eighth against right-hander Vance Worley.

Medica smashed a solo homer and induced two walks during a 1-for-3 performance Sunday against the Braves.

The long ball handed the Padres a brief lead that closer Joaquin Benoit would relinquish just one inning later, but Medica drew his second free pass of the afternoon with two outs in the bottom of the ninth before Jedd Gyorko grounded out to end the rally. Teammate Everth Cabrera hit a walkoff single in the next frame, yet the story of the weekend series was Medica, whose 18 total bases matched the franchise record for a three-game set at Petco Park. The output is the latest in a 16-for-33 stretch at the plate, during which he's tallied two homers, nine RBI, six runs, and one stolen base. There's no reason for manager Bud Black to avoid sending him out there daily, whether at first base or in the corner outfield.