Burke, 29, signed with the Padres as a minor league free agent on January 13 and was invited to Major League Spring Training. He appeared in 15 games this Spring for San Diego, hitting .281 (9-for-32) with one double, three RBI and six runs scored before being traded to the Mariners in exchange for cash considerations on March 29. In the Seattle organization, he hit .237 (9-for-38) with two doubles, one home run, three RBI and seven runs scored in 10 games for Triple-A Tacoma.

Originally selected by the Astros in the first round (10th overall) of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Burke owns a career .241 average (286-for-1,185) with 66 doubles, six triples, 22 home runs, 106 RBI, 36 stolen bases and 168 runs scored in 445 games over parts of five Big League seasons with the Astros (2004-07) and Diamondbacks (2008).