Lefty Estes nearing deal with Padres

01/03/2006
In a move that would land a longtime nemesis and inject a left-hander into the starting rotation, free agent Shawn Estes is on the verge of joining the Padres with a one-year deal in excess of $1 million.
Vice president and general manager Kevin Towers confirmed that Estes, who suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle in July while pitching for the Diamondbacks, is scheduled to undergo a physical examination Wednesday.
"If everything goes well there, he'll be a Padre," said Towers, adding that he remains in conversation with the Red Sox regarding former Padre David Wells, another veteran lefty.
Estes, who turns 33 on Feb. 18, is 13-5 in 23 career appearances against the Padres and 99-89 with a 4.71 career ERA in 273 games, including one relief appearance.
The 6-foot-2, 219-pound native of San Bernardino, Calif., was 7-8 with a 4.80 ERA in 21 starts for the Diamondbacks in '05. He split two decisions against the Padres with a 2.57 ERA in two starts.
Estes' best season was 1997 when he was 19-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 32 starts for the Giants, making the National League All-Star team. He has visited the disabled list seven times with shoulder problems but has been free of shoulder woes since 2001.
"He's a fly-ball pitcher who should be effective in our ballpark, especially with our improved outfield defense," Towers said. "He can handle the bat, too."
He didn't show it in '05, hitting .069 in Arizona, but he batted .236 in Colorado in '04 and is a .158 career hitter with four homers. The right-handed hitter batted .206 with a homer and 10 RBIs for the Giants in 2000.
Estes is 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA in three career starts at PETCO Park, with the Rockies in 2004. Estes was 15-8 that season before choosing the Diamondbacks in free agency, with the Padres also in pursuit.
He turned down a scholarship from Stanford to sign with the Mariners as their first-round choice (11th overall) in 1991 out of Douglas High School in Minden, Nev.
Estes likely would join Jake Peavy, newcomer Chris Young, Woody Williams and Chan Ho Park or Clay Hensley in the rotation, with Tim Stauffer, Dewon Brazelton and Rule 5 acquisition Seth Etherton also expected to make bids during Spring Training.
The Padres on Tuesday agreed to terms with Brazelton on a one-year contract and with catcher Todd Greene on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Brazelton, 25, went 1-8 with a 7.61 ERA in 71 innings for the Devil Rays in 2005. At 24, the right-hander was the Major Leagues' second-youngest Opening Day starter last season.
Originally the third overall pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Brazelton was acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for third baseman Sean Burroughs on Dec. 7. He was not offered arbitration, signing a free-agent deal. Brazelton has a career record of 8-23 with a 5.98 ERA in 54 games, including 41 starts.
Greene, 34, batted .254 with seven home runs and 23 RBI in 126 at-bats for the Rockies in 2005. He was limited to 38 games after suffering a strained right hamstring on June 5.
Over parts of 10 Major League seasons with the Angels, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rangers and Rockies, Greene has a career batting average of .248 with 69 home runs and 200 RBIs in 475 games.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

West champs retooling for '06

01/01/2006
After enduring enough anxiety to fill a psychologist's calendar for a month, the Padres and their fans managed to exhale and smile as Brian Giles and Trevor Hoffman decided that life in celestial San Diego was preferable to more riches in other locales.
With their offensive centerpiece and record-chasing closer back in the fold, the reigning National League West champions venture optimistically into the new season, having added a number of intriguing parts to go with cornerstones Giles, Hoffman, ace Jake Peavy and shortstop Khalil Greene.
General manager Kevin Towers vowed a personnel shakeup following an 82-80 season and three-game sweep by the Cardinals in the NLDS, and he wasn't joking, stripping close to half the roster with a dizzying array of moves.
Center fielder Mike Cameron arrived courtesy of the Mets in a swap for Xavier Nady, instantly transforming a liability into an asset with his Gold Glove. With Cameron flanked by Giles and Dave Roberts, last year's center fielder, with Ben Johnson and Eric Young backing up, Padres pitchers will be delighted to see untold doubles and triples turn into outs at vast PETCO Park.
The infield also takes on a new look. Ryan Klesko moves from left to first, and Greene will have new faces to his left and right. Mark Loretta's departure to Boston in exchange for catcher Doug Mirabelli gives rookie Josh Barfield, son of Jesse, first crack at second. Vinny Castilla, hoping to return to his glory days as he plays close to his native Mexican soil, will replace Joe Randa and Sean Burroughs at third base, having arrived from Washington in exchange for starter Brian Lawrence.
Ramon Hernandez is off to Baltimore as a free agent and Miguel Olivo, Hernandez's exceptional understudy in '05, signed with Florida. That leaves the Padres searching for a catcher, with the seasoned Mirabelli, newcomer Pete Laforest and veteran David Ross in the mix. Cameron, Castilla, Greene and Barfield all have the muscle to reach the seats from the right side, providing balance with lefty-swinging Roberts, Giles and Klesko.
The Padres will have Peavy and newcomer Chris Young at the front end of the rotation and Woody Williams and Chan Ho Park, both in comeback modes, ticketed for the back end. The club's All-Star representative and league strikeout king in '05, Peavy pitched through a string of ailments to go 13-7 with a 2.88 ERA. With more run support and better luck, he can approach 20 wins in '06.
Clay Hensley, a revelation in middle relief in 05, is determined to nail down Lawrence's spot in the rotation. Tim Stauffer, who started 14 games last season, is also in the picture, along with Rule 5 pickup Seth Etherton.
A prime asset throughout the '05 campaign, the bullpen figures to be formidable again. Hoffman will pursue Lee Smith's all-time saves record behind a pair of setup artists with few equals, Scott Linebrink and Akinori Otsuka. With 436 career saves, all but two with the Padres, Hoffman needs 43 to surpass Smith -- the exact number he claimed in '05 as he made good on all but three save chances, including 38 in a row.
The balance of the bullpen needs some work with Rudy Seanez and Chris Hammond, invaluable in the middle innings in '05, departing. Lefty Craig Breslow hopes to join Scott Cassidy and Rule 5 acquisition Stephen Andrade in middle relief, with Etherton and Stauffer also candidates.
The bench will have a new look with valued reserves Mark Sweeney, Robert Fick, Damian Jackson and Nady departing. Geoff Blum returns to offer protection at all four infield positions, with newcomer Bobby Hill figuring to get playing time at third and second.
Young gives the club a third option at second behind Barfield, who has starred at Triple-A Portland. The leader of last season's "Red Alert" bench unit, Young also can play left and center, giving manager Bruce Bochy another option in the leadoff spot along with Roberts.
Hobbled by injuries in '05, Roberts and Klesko hold keys to the attack. Roberts hopes to put together a full season leading off, free of roaming PETCO Park's vast expanses of center and right-center. That responsibility falls to an eager Cameron, who plans to add a third Gold Glove to the ones he captured in '01 and '03 with the Mariners.
Offseason report card: The offense should be improved with Giles joined by Cameron and Castilla and a possible return to form by Klesko, while the defense also should be more airtight with Cameron and Castilla. Hoffman solidifies the bullpen behind a rotation that must stay healthy. The production of Hernandez and Loretta must be replaced, and the newly constituted bench has to rise to the occasion again. Give this club, expected to contend, an 8 on a scale of 10.
Arrivals: 3B Vinny Castilla (trade), CF Mike Cameron (trade), IF Geoff Blum (free agent), IF Bobby Hill (trade), C Doug Mirabelli (trade), C Pete Laforest (free agent), RHP Seth Etherton (Rule 5), RHP Stephen Andrade (Rule 5), 2B Mark Bellhorn (free agent), RHP Brian Sikorski (free agent), RHP Doug Brocail (free agent), RHP Chris Young (trade), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (trade) and OF Terrmel Sledge (trade)
Departures: 2B Mark Loretta, 3B Joe Randa, 3B Sean Burroughs, IF/OF Damian Jackson, 1B/OF Xavier Nady, 1B/OF Mark Sweeney, 1B/OF/C Robert Fick, C Ramon Hernandez, RHP Brian Lawrence, RHP Rudy Seanez, LHP Craig Breslow, LHP Chris Hammond, RHP Chris Oxspring, RHP Adam Eaton, RHP Akinori Otsuka, C Miguel Olivo
The Road Ahead: The team needs to add another bat for the bench, straight out its catching situation and deliver more depth in the bullpen, along with a possible starting pitcher, between Jan. 1 and Spring Training.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres complete deal with Rangers

01/04/2006
The biggest deal of the Padres' busy winter is official.
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez, outfielder Terrmel Sledge and right-handed pitcher Chris Young are San Diego-bound courtesy of the Texas Rangers in exchange for right-handed pitchers Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka and Minor League catcher Billy Killian.
"In Gonzalez, Sledge and Young, we've acquired some talented young players who have had success at the Major League level," said Padres vice president/general manager Kevin Towers. "Despite giving up some arms in Eaton and Otsuka, we feel that this is a deal that will not only benefit us in the long run, but will also make us a better ballclub in 2006."
A solid all-around player with an excellent glove, Gonzalez is expected to share first base with veteran Ryan Klesko, gradually finding a comfort level in a new league and new environment that has a familiar feel.
A San Diego native who attended Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Gonzalez was the No. 1 overall choice in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft by the Marlins.
Gonzalez, 23, batted .227 with six home runs and 17 RBIs in 43 games for Texas in 2005. In 84 games with Triple-A Oklahoma, he batted .338 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder recently batted .306 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 43 RBIs in 67 games with Mazatlan in the Mexican Winter League.
Sledge, 28, is considered a pure hitter who will provide outfield depth and a left-handed bat off the bench.
He batted .243 with one home run and eight RBIs in 20 games with the Nationals in an injury-shortened 2005. He suffered a season-ending injury to his right hamstring on May 2 at Los Angeles and subsequently underwent successful surgery.
Sledge showed his ability to hit Major League pitching with the Montreal Expos in 2004. He has a career batting average of .267 with 16 home runs, 20 doubles, 70 RBIs and 52 runs scored in 153 games.
Young, 25, went 12-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 31 games (all starts) for the Rangers in 2005. His 12 victories tied a Texas rookie record while he ranked among Major League rookie leaders in strikeouts (137; second), wins (tied for third), ERA (fourth), starts (fifth) and innings pitched (164 2/3; fifth). Additionally, his 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fifth in the American League.
A former basketball star at Princeton, the 6-foot-10 Young has a career record of 15-9 with a 4.34 ERA. He has registered 164 strikeouts in 201 innings, across 38 games, all starts.
Eaton, 27, went 11-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 24 games (22 starts) in 2005, tying his career high in victories. From April 21 through June 9, Eaton ran off a career-high eight-game winning streak, tied for the third-longest in the National League in 2005 and the longest by a Padres pitcher since Kevin Brown won 11 consecutive decisions in 1998.
Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a four-player trade on Nov. 10, 1999, Eaton has a career record of 47-41 with a 4.34 ERA in 133 outings (131 starts). He ranks among all-time franchise leaders in wins (tied for 12th), innings pitched (12th), games started (tied for 10th) and strikeouts (10th; 623).
Otsuka, 33, went 2-8 with a 3.59 ERA in 66 relief appearances for the Padres in 2005. He ranked second among Padres relievers in games pitched, while also ranking second among National League leaders with 22 holds.
In two seasons with the Padres, Otsuka, a successful closer in Japan, has a 9-10 record with a 2.57 ERA in 139 games. His 1.75 ERA in 2004 is the lowest ever by a San Diego reliever with at least 70 appearances.
Killian, 19, batted a combined .261 with 14 RBIs in 32 games at Rookie League Arizona and 14 at short-season Class A Eugene. In two Minor League seasons in the Padres organization, Killian has a career batting average of .244 with 15 doubles and 27 RBI in 89 games.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres hoping for stacked starting deck

01/04/2006
In San Diego, it's Jake Peavy and Co. The quality of the company the ace keeps will go a long way in determining the Padres' chances of successfully defending their National League West title.
Peavy, at 24, is just entering his prime as one of baseball's dominant pitchers. An All-Star for the first time in 2005, he led the NL in strikeouts with 216, going 13-7 with a 2.88 ERA, sixth best in the league.
Mobile, Ala.'s gift to the Padres, Peavy pitched gamely all summer through a variety of ailments. After fracturing a rib while stumbling in a delivery against the Cardinals in the NL Division Series, he devoted the winter months to R&R.
The intensely driven right-hander is geared up to get started, according to manager Bruce Bochy.
"Jake has stepped up his conditioning program," Bochy said. "He says he feels great and is looking forward to a big season."
The questions in the Padres' rotation are found beneath Peavy. Newcomers Shawn Estes and Chris Young are expected to join Peavy in a reshaped alignment.
Estes, a veteran lefty with 99 Major League wins against 89 losses, gives the rotation a lefty it hasn't had since David Wells departed for the Red Sox after the '04 season. The Padres have engaged Boston in conversations regarding Wells' possible return.
A Padres killer with a 13-5 career record against San Diego, Estes was limited to 21 starts with the Diamondbacks in '05 when he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot in July. He was 7-8 with a 4.80 ERA for Arizona.
At his best in '97, Estes went 19-5 with a 3.18 ERA as an All-Star with the Giants. The Padres hope the vast dimensions of PETCO Park will work to the benefit of the 6-foot-2, 219-pound native of San Bernardino, Calif.
The biggest change, literally, comes with the arrival of Chris Young from Texas in the six-player swap that made a Ranger of Adam Eaton, the former No. 2 starter.
At 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, Young can look Randy Johnson in the eye -- and the Padres are hoping his career is moving in the same arc as the Big Unit.
At 26, Young had a breakthrough '05, going 12-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 31 starts. His 137 strikeouts against 45 walks made an impression on the Padres brass, which envisions Young flourishing in the pitcher-friendly environs of PETCO Park.
"Young will be better in PETCO Park and the National League," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said following the deal that also netted outfielder Terrmel Sledge and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in exchange for Eaton, reliever Akinori Otsuka and catcher Billy Killian.
Eaton appeared to be on his way to the All-Star Game with a 9-1 start when he injured his right middle finger pitching in Detroit on June 15, finishing 11-5 with a 4.27 ERA.
A basketball star at Princeton with enough talent to attract NBA scouts, Young was fifth in the American League in strikeouts per nine innings at 7.42, getting his fastball into the low-to-mid 90s. He was 5-2 with a 4.17 ERA on the road.
The challenge for pitching coach Darren Balsley is to increase Young's stamina and endurance. He averaged 5.31 innings per start in '05.
The club is banking on comeback seasons from veteran right-handers Woody Williams and Chan Ho Park.
After going 45-22 in 3 1/2 seasons in St. Louis, Williams struggled in his return to San Diego. He was 9-12 with a 4.85 ERA, surrendering 24 homers in 159 2/3 innings. His stuff was solid but his command was uncharacteristically inconsistent.
Arriving at midseason from Texas in a swap for Phil Nevin, Park showed signs of returning to dominant form from his Dodgers days. But the 6-foot-2 right-hander also fought his control in 10 appearances (nine starts) with the Padres.
Park was 4-3 with a 5.91 ERA in those 10 appearances, giving up 80 baserunners in 45 2/3 innings while striking out 33.
Expected to compete in Spring Training for rotation spots are Clay Hensley, Tim Stauffer, Dewon Brazelton and Seth Etherton.
A starter since his professional debut in 2002 in the Giants system, Hensley, 26, flourished in middle relief after getting summoned from Triple-A Portland at midseason, with a 1.70 ERA in 47 2/3 innings.
With a sinking fastball complemented by three other pitches he'll throw in any count, Hensley has the repertoire and desire to emerge as a quality starter -- if the club can free him from the bullpen.
The exits of Otsuka, Rudy Seanez and Chris Hammond from the relief corps will put the onus on newcomers such as Doug Brocail, Brian Sikorski and Steve Andrade to deliver and free Hensley for the rotation.
Stauffer, 23, was 3-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts (15 appearances) after winning his Major League debut in Cincinnati on May 11.
The fourth overall pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Stauffer needs to trust his excellent stuff and go after hitters. Too often he fell behind in counts and was forced to groove pitches.
Acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for third baseman Sean Burroughs, Brazelton, 25, was the Devil Rays' Opening Day starter in '05.
The Padres are hoping a change of scenery and leagues will benefit the former first-round pick who is 8-23 with a 5.98 ERA in 54 Major League appearances, including 41 starts.
Fighting control issues, Brazelton was 1-8 with a 7.61 ERA in 20 games (eight starts) in '05. He walked 60 in 71 innings, striking out 43.
Etherton, 29, was taken in the Rule 5 draft and will be returned to the A's if he doesn't make the 25-man roster. The right-hander is 8-6 in 21 Major League career appearances, with a 6.08 ERA. He was 1-1 with a 6.62 ERA in three games in '05.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Prospects improve stock in winter ball

01/06/2006
The Winter Leagues have improved the stock of several Padres prospects, notably shortstop Luis Cruz, while giving two players acquired in offseason deals -- first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Terrmel Sledge -- opportunities to showcase their talents for their new employer.
Cruz, who turns 22 on Feb. 10, and has been compared with former Padres shortstop Chris Gomez, hit up a storm with his hometown Navajoa club in Mexico.
A California League All-Star in 2004 for Lake Elsinore, Cruz was batting .327 through Dec. 30 with .555 slugging and .372 on-base marks. He had 10 homers and 43 RBIs in 59 games, while committing nine errors.
Cruz divided time in '05 between Double-A Mobile and the Mexico City Red Devils of the Mexican League, batting .159 in 44 games at Mobile. But he found his stroke and confidence on his native soil and is being given a shot to climb through the system and reach San Diego as a utility player.
Freddy Guzman, still considered the center fielder of the future by some in the organization, tailed off after a blazing start in the Dominican Republic.
Guzman, who missed all of '05 after surgery on his right elbow, was batting .257 with .305 slugging and .350 on-base marks with Estrellas. Showing his blazing speed, he was successful in all 11 of his stolen base attempts. Guzman figures to start the season with Triple-A Portland.
Gonzalez, expected to share first base with Ryan Klesko after coming over from the Rangers in a six-player swap, batted .306 with .496 slugging and .380 on-base numbers for Mazatlan in Mexico.
A San Diegan who bats and throws from the left side, Gonzalez had 10 homers and 43 RBIs in 67 games.
Coming off a 2005 season with the Nationals that effectively was wiped out by hamstring surgery, Sledge batted .258 with .419 slugging and .337 on-base marks with Caguas in Puerto Rico.
Ben Johnson, who figures to provide outfield depth and a right-handed bat off the bench for the Padres after a solid '05 debut, was struggling in the Domincan Republic.
Johnson was batting .242 with .379 slugging and .275 on-base figures for Azucarreros.
Most impressive of the Padres' pitching prospects were Dale Thayer, Arturo Lopez, Joakim Soria, Salvador Robles and Brian Sweeney.
Thayer, a lefty from UCLA who closed effectively for Double-A Mobile in '05, had a 3.45 ERA in 30 games for Guasave in Mexico. He held hitters to a .223 batting average while striking out 18 and walking 12 in 28 2/3 innings.
Lopez, another lefty who toiled as a starter for Lake Elsinore in '05, had a 1.35 ERA in 25 games for Hermosillo in his native Mexico.
Soria made an impression with a 1.45 ERA for Obregon in Mexico, walking 13 while striking out 37 in 31 innings and holding opponents to a .202 batting average.
Robles, pitching for Escogido in the Dominican Republic, had a 3.12 ERA with 20 strikeouts and eight walks in 26 innings, with hitters batting .220 against him.
Sweeney, who pitched for Triple-A Portland in '05, authored a 4.08 ERA in 11 starts for Magallanes in Venezuela. He struck out 37 with 14 walks in 64 innings, giving up a .281 batting average.
Dewon Brazelton, the 2001 first-round pick (No. 3 overall) by Tampa Bay acquired for Sean Burroughs last month, had a 5.30 ERA in four appearances for Mayaguez in Puerto Rico. The 6-foot-4 right-hander walked four and struck out seven in 18 2/3 innings.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Mailbag: How will rotation shake out?

01/09/2006
How do you expect the starting rotation to shake out when the 2006 season opens?-- Paul Y., Mar Vista, Calif.
Right now, after ace Jake Peavy, you'd have to go with Chris Young, Shawn Estes, Woody Williams and Chan Ho Park. But that could change, pending the long-rumored return of David Wells from the Red Sox and dominant Spring Training performances by a variety of candidates.
If Wells does return, he's the No. 2 starter in front of the promising Young, leaving Estes, Williams, Park competing with a collection of lively arms -- Clay Hensley, Tim Stauffer, Dewon Brazelton, Kenny Baugh, Seth Etherton -- for two remaining spots. (Jared Wells, the club's 2005 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and future star Cesar Carrillo, the '05 No. 1 pick, are probably a year away from challenging for rotation spots.)
Williams and Park, happy to get a fresh start in a new environment, figure to be better in '06. I wouldn't be surprised to see both men come back with solid seasons.
I thought Hensley was a cinch to start in '06, given his superb performance in middle relief in the second half and a versatile repertoire that lends itself to several trips through a lineup. But now I'm not so sure, sizing up the reconstructed bullpen and glut of starting candidates.
Hensley could slide into Akinori Otsuka's seventh-inning setup role in front of Scott Linebrink and Trevor Hoffman. That assignment also could fall to one of the veterans -- Doug Brocail or Brian Sikorski -- signed as free agents. Scott Cassidy, another veteran right-hander, pitched effectively late in the season and is in the mix.
Clearly, Peoria, Ariz., will be the land of opportunity starting the final week of February when all the candidates get together and start showing their stuff.
How do you assess the second base situation? Aren't they a little overloaded there?-- Bryan N., Temecula, Calif.
Indeed, that is quite a logjam at second. Mark Loretta should be gratified to see that his old club feels it needs five guys to replace him.
Mark Bellhorn, like Geoff Blum, has had some moments, and does have some appealing talents, but this job has to be Josh Barfield's to win. The kid has done everything to warrant a shot with his play at Triple-A Portland, and I love his bloodlines. His father, Jesse, was one of the real standup guys in the game during his prime in Toronto.
Blum made his mark in the World Series with his Game 3-winning homer, and there's nothing wrong with his defense. Bellhorn, Blum, Bobby Hill and Eric Young are versatile talents capable of playing a variety of positions, and you can be sure all four will come to Spring Training determined to open eyes in pursuit of full-time work.
Barfield has excelled at every level as a clutch hitter, an indication that he'll be up for the challenge. He's an athlete with developing defensive skills. Fans are justified in wanting to see what he can do with this chance created by the detachment of the popular, productive Loretta.
Do they really believe they can win with backup catchers? That's the most important position on the field, except for the mound, of course.-- Mark L., Santa Monica, Calif.
Apparently, the front office feels it can get by with Doug Mirabelli, David Ross and Pete Laforest handling the tools of intelligence. This remains the biggest question mark on the club in the wake of the exits of Ramon Hernandez and Miguel Olivo.
Hernandez wanted to stay, but the club was committed to doing everything possible to retain Hoffman and Brian Giles. His departure is not surprising. But I have a hard time understanding the Olivo situation.
OK, he struggled with his stroke in the Dominican Republic over the winter and there were a few complaints among pitchers about his pitch selection. But a guaranteed contract under $1 million hardly seemed unreasonable. Olivo showed in a month-long audition that he was a highly capable receiver with a loud, if inconsistent bat. Letting him go to the Marlins was a dubious decision.
Mirabelli, Ross and Laforest all come highly recommended as defensive catchers. Opportunity has surfaced for all three men as the Padres wait for their valued prospects -- George Kottaras, Colt Morton and Nick Hundley -- to gain seasoning.
If the three journeymen can combine to hit in the neighborhood of .250, the club will be satisfied. How the fans react if runs prove scarce is another matter.
Will Adrian Gonzalez get a fair shot at taking first base from Ryan Klesko? -- Bob B., Solana Beach, Calif.
Gonzalez has intriguing potential, but he's still developing at 23 and hasn't yet shown he can consistently hit Major League pitching. Klesko's not the most popular athlete in town at the moment, but he has a track record and merits first call at first.
If he's reasonably healthy with the move from left, Ryno gives the club a legitimate cleanup thumper. Gonzalez at this stage is primarily a gap hitter with occasional home-run power. My guess is that Gonzalez will spell Klesko, starting once or twice a week while serving as a defensive replacement in the late innings.
A lot of fans have soured on Klesko, but he can turn that around with a productive season. With an expiring contract, this is a big year for the big man. I fully expect him to report with a positive attitude, committed to helping power this offense. Gonzalez is an excellent insurance policy, ready to move in for keeps when the opportunity arises.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres add lefty Estes to rotation

01/10/2006
The Padres have added a lefty to their starting rotation, agreeing to terms with veteran Shawn Estes on a one-year contract in excess of $1 million upon completion of a physical examination by the club.
Estes, who turns 33 on Feb. 18, went 7-8 with a 4.80 ERA in 21 starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005. He was limited to 21 starts, his lowest total since 1996, after suffering a stress reaction in his left ankle July 5 at St. Louis.
Across 11 Major League seasons with the Giants, Mets, Reds, Cubs, Rockies and Diamondbacks, Estes is 99-89 with a 4.71 ERA in 273 games, including one relief appearance.
He ranks among active southpaw leaders in wins (13th), complete games (14; 13th), shutouts (eight; tied for ninth) and strikeouts (1,187; 12th).
Vice president/general manager Kevin Towers made the announcement, happily latching onto a pitcher who has driven the Padres batty over the years.
"We think he'll be a fine addition," Towers said. "I've always been a fan of his."
Estes is 13-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 23 career appearances against the Padres.
The 6-foot-2, 219-pound native of San Bernardino, Calif., split two decisions against the Padres in 2005 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts.
In four career starts at PETCO Park, he's 1-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings.
Estes' best season was 1997, when he was 19-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 32 starts for the Giants, putting him on the NL All-Star team. He has visited the disabled list seven times with shoulder problems but has been free of shoulder woes since 2001.
"He's a fly-ball pitcher who should be effective in our ballpark, especially with our improved outfield defense," Towers said. "He can handle the bat, too."
He didn't show it in '05, hitting .069 in Arizona, but he batted .236 in Colorado in '04 and is a .158 career hitter with four homers. The right-handed Estes batted .206 with a homer and 10 RBIs for the Giants in 2000.
Estes was 15-8 with the Rockies in 2004 before choosing the Diamondbacks in free agency, with the Padres also in pursuit.
He turned down a scholarship from Stanford to sign with the Mariners as their first-round choice (11th overall) in the draft out of Douglas High School in Minden, Nev.
Estes likely would join Jake Peavy, newcomer Chris Young, Woody Williams and Chan Ho Park or Clay Hensley in the rotation, with Tim Stauffer, Dewon Brazelton and Rule 5 acquisition Seth Etherton also expected to make bids during Spring Training.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Single-game tix to go on sale Feb. 25

01/10/2006
The countdown has begun for those seven golden words for all baseball fans: Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.
Before you know it, it will be April 3 and Barry Bonds will be digging in against Jake Peavy on Opening Day at PETCO Park.
With anticipation building for an exciting National League West title defense for a dramatically remodeled Padres outfit, the club has announced that single-game tickets for the 2006 season will go on sale to the public Saturday, Feb. 25.
Fans can purchase single-game tickets beginning at 9 a.m. PT over the Internet at padres.com, at the PETCO Park Advance Ticket Windows, by phone at 877-FRIARTIX, at all participating PETCO locations and at the Padres Team Store in Tijuana.
The Padres are also introducing seven special ticket "6-Packs," featuring an assortment of attractive NL West and Interleague matchups, available for purchase by fans beginning Saturday, Feb. 11.
"2006 promises to be an exciting year as we defend our National League West title, and we're pleased to provide fans with a wide variety of ticket prices and packages," said Padres CEO Sandy Alderson. "By offering a range of season-ticket packages, single-game tickets available for as low as $5, and our new '6-Pack' options, we're continuing our commitment to affordable family entertainment."
Ten of the 14 categories for single-game tickets in 2006 remain at the same prices as 2005. For the third straight year, prices have remained constant. Four categories of single-game tickets will increase: Field Box ($40 to $45), Field Reserve ($34 to $38), Left Field Lower Box ($20 to $26) and Left Field Reserve ($12 to $14).
All other sections remain the same, including family-friendly seating in the $5, $8 and $12 categories.
Season-ticket prices for 2006 -- as they were for the 2004 and '05 seasons -- range from $10 to $46 per game, with 20-game packages starting as low as $200. Season-ticket prices are 11 to 30 percent lower than single-game pricing.
Season tickets are available online at padres.com, by calling (619) 795-5500 or by visiting the Padres ticket office at PETCO Park during regular business hours.
The Padres open the 2006 season at PETCO Park on Monday, April 3, against Bonds and the Giants.
Other highlights of the 81-game home slate, featuring 39 weekend dates, include a four-game set May 5-8 against the Cubs and three-game series against the Cardinals on May 26-28, Braves on July 14-16 and Astros on Aug. 1-3.
San Diego natives Eric Chavez and Barry Zito will make their PETCO Park debuts June 27-29 with the Athletics.
The seven "6-Pack" options include many of the season's best games, and will be available in four seating categories for prices as low as $60 for a full package.
Over its first two years, PETCO Park has hosted 41 sellouts and 5,886,539 fans in 162 regular-season games. The nearly 6 million fans include the top two all-time Padres attendance marks with 3,016,752 fans visiting the ballpark in 2004 and 2,869,787 in 2005.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Around the Horn: Bullpen

01/12/2006
Welcome to Kevin Towers' workshop. He's the guy with the toolbox over in the corner, busy as always, pounding out a new bullpen around closer Trevor Hoffman, the enduring fixture and centerpiece.
With a 2006 season that replicates '05, Hoffman will become the all-time save king in the Major Leagues. The anchor, signed to a new contract in December to the relief of Padres fans everywhere, is 42 saves away from Lee Smith, who retired with 478.
With Scott Linebrink and Akinori Otsuka setting him up, Hoffman was second in the NL to Chad Cordero with 43 saves, converting 38 in a row. He blew only three saves and was NL Pitcher of the Month for May.
There will be some new faces and personalities in Hoffman's midst in '06, but that's nothing new.
"Getting Hoffy back is huge," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's the best of all time. And I have a lot of confidence in Liney. We have some things to sort out in middle relief, but I think we'll be in good shape again in the bullpen."
If there's one area where Towers has specialized in his decade as the Padres' general manager, it's in piecing together quality bullpens -- often without the resources available to colleagues.
Towers was at his best last winter, overhauling his relief corps with the seemingly modest acquisitions of veterans Rudy Seanez and Chris Hammond. With both men delivering handsomely, the Padres boasted a bullpen with few equals on their way to the NL West title.
The return of Hoffman means Linebrink, a dominant force, is back in his eighth-inning role, giving the Friars a one-two punch at the end of games few clubs in baseball can match.
In the eighth inning, Linebrink is money, as good as it gets.
The 29-year-old Texan was 8-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 73 appearances in '05, striking out 70 while walking just 23. He's 17-5 with a 2.23 ERA in 189 games as a Padre, striking out 204 in 218 1/3 innings.
The questions involve middle relief and the seventh inning.
After bidding farewell to Seanez and Hammond as free agents and dealing the durable Otsuka to the Rangers, Towers is challenged to work his relief magic.
Summoned from Triple-A Portland at midseason, Clay Hensley was 1-1 with a 1.70 ERA across 47 2/3 innings -- and did not allow a home run with his sinking fastball and variety of pitches. He made one start in 24 appearances, going five solid innings in a loss to the Dodgers.
The 26-year-old Texan has the repertoire and mind-set of a starter but might be needed in the bullpen for another season.
Also back from '05 is veteran Scott Cassidy, who was 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA in 10 games. The 30-year-old right-hander has an excellent Minor League resume to go with a 2-5 record and 6.15 ERA in 69 Major League games.
The new names in the mix are Doug Brocail, Brian Sikorski and Steve Andrade. How these three right-handers fare in Spring Training could determine whether Hensley can get the starting shot he covets.
Originally a Padre, signed in 1986 as a first-round pick (12th overall) in the January Supplemental Draft, Brocail, 38, was signed to a one-year, $1 million free agent contract after a solid season with the Rangers.
In 61 appearances covering 73 1/3 innings, Brocail was 5-3 with a 5.52 ERA, striking out 61 while walking 34 and giving up only two home runs -- no small feat for someone pitching half his games in hitter-friendly Ameriquest Field.
Physically imposing at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Brocail broke in with the Padres in '92 and was 4-13 in 24 starts in '93. He was converted into a reliever the following season, starting an odyssey that took him to Houston, Detroit and Texas. He's 37-40 in 442 Major League games with a 4.06 ERA.
Sikorski, a 31-year-old Detroit native signed as a free agent, was 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA for the Rangers in 2000 before moving to Japan and spending five productive seasons with Lotte and Yomiuri.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Sikorski was 21-20 and fashioned a 3.51 ERA in 238 games. He throws strikes, evidenced by his 387 strikeouts against 116 walks in 386 2/3 innings. He'll be given a shot at taking the seventh-inning role occupied by former Japan import Otsuka.
Acquired for cash considerations in the Rule 5 Draft from Tampa Bay, which made him the third overall pick, Andrade, 27, was selected from Toronto's Syracuse SkyChiefs roster.
"[Andrade's] a guy who just gets hitters out, everywhere he pitches," said vice president of scouting and development Grady Fuson. "We think he's got a chance to make our staff. He's a big guy, 6-1 and 220 pounds, and he hits 89-90 [mph] with good command."
Andrade was 3-2 with three saves and a 1.97 ERA in 35 games with Double-A New Hampshire of the Eastern League. He struck out 71 with 16 walks in 50 innings pitched.
With the sixth pick in the Rule 5 Draft, the Friars tabbed Seth Etherton, a right-handed starter from Kansas City's Omaha roster. Etherton, 29, is 8-6 in his Major League career with a 6.08 ERA in 108 innings pitched.
"Etherton was the No. 1 guy we identified in the Minor League Six-Year Draft," Towers said. "But he ended up taking a non-roster deal with Kansas City. He's a guy with good command and some experience, and we'll take a look at him in Spring Training."
Etherton, from USC, throws in the 88-91 mph range with a good breaking ball and changeup, said Fuson, and will compete for a spot in the rotation or long relief. His best year came in 2000, when he was 5-1 with a 5.52 ERA in 11 starts with the Angels.
Property of the A's in '05, Etherton was 1-1 with a 6.62 ERA at the Major League level and 7-7 in 19 starts (20 games) at Triple-A Sacramento with a 2.72 ERA. He struck out 99 and walked 30 in 112 innings.
The club signed former Padre Alan Embree to a Minor League contract, and the southpaw will be given every opportunity to provide some lefty balance in the 'pen.
Embree, who pitched with both the Red Sox and Yankees last season, had a 1.26 ERA appearing in 36 games (29 innings) for the Padres in 2002 with a 3-4 record. He was dealt to Boston with left-hander Andy Shibilo on June 23, 2002, with the Padres getting right-handers Brad Baker and Dan Giese.
Embree, who throws in the 90s with excellent command, had a 4.25 ERA in 65 games for the Red Sox in 2003 and had a 4.13 ERA in 71 games in 2004.
He appeared in 67 games for the Red Sox and Yankees last season, but his ERA was 7.62.
"The way you get a good non-roster player for less than a million dollars is after a bad season," Towers said.
"It's a no-lose situation for us. If he makes the club, we got a solid veteran guy and a bargain price. If he doesn't, it won't cost us a dime."
Jon Adkins, Andy Ashby, Erick Burke, Eric Junge, Ryan Meaux, Brian Sweeney and Mike Thompson are other non-roster pitchers bidding to make the club.
Also in the picture are Dewon Brazelton and Kenny Baugh, talented right-handers hoping to crack the rotation, and Minor League southpaws Rusty Tucker and Sean Thompson, who will try to make an impression in Spring Training.
Craig Breslow, who performed capably in spot duty in '05, is a free agent.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres agree to terms with Alan Embree

01/12/2006
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres today agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Alan Embree on a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers made the announcement.
Embree, 35, went 2-5 with one save and a 7.62 ERA (44 ER/52.0 IP) in a combined 67 games with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in 2005. This will be Embree's second tour with the Padres after having been a member of the club in 2002. In 36 relief appearances with the Friars that season, Embree went 3-4 with a 1.26 ERA (4 ER/28.2 IP) and 38 strikeouts prior to being traded to Boston.
Over parts of 12 Major League seasons with the Cleveland Indians (1992, 1995-96), Atlanta Braves (1997-98), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998), San Francisco Giants (1999-2001), Chicago White Sox (2001), Red Sox (2002-05), Padres (2002) and Yankees (2005), Embree has a career record of 30-33 with eight saves and a 4.70 ERA (296 ER/567.1 IP) in 635 games (four starts).
Embree will join pitchers Jon Adkins, Andy Ashby, Erick Burke, Eric Junge, Ryan Meaux, Brian Sweeney and Mike Thompson, catchers Todd Greene and Jason Hill, infielders Manny Alexander and Justin Leone and outfielders Jack Cust and Eric Valent as players who have agreed to minor league contracts and will receive invites to Spring Training. The Padres currently have 54 players schedule to be in camp.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Thayer keeps 'getting people out'

01/13/2006
In an organization that increasingly values performance over potential, Dale Thayer continues to make excellent impressions as a right-handed reliever with closing possibilities down the road, P.T. (Post Trevor).
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Chico State, Thayer, 25, has racked up dominating numbers from Fort Wayne in 2003 to Lake Elsinore in 2004 to Mobile in '04 and '05.
After saving 27 of Double-A Mobile's 58 wins and being selected the team's Pitcher of the Year in '05, Thayer traveled to Guasave in the Mexican Pacific League and continued to do what he does best: frustrate hitters in any language.
Through Dec. 30, pitching for Guasave against highly rated competition, Thayer had 18 saves with a 3.45 ERA, holding hitters to a .223 batting average in 28 2/3 innings. He had 18 strikeouts while walking 12 men.
Thayer can expect to compete for the closer's role with Triple-A Portland in Spring Training. Brad Baker, the Beavers' main closer in '05, was signed by the Atlanta Braves.
At 6 feet and 190 pounds, Thayer isn't physically imposing, but he has been able to mow down hitters with his fastball and slider at three Minor League levels.
In 57 2/3 innings at Mobile, he walked 26 and struck out 59, giving him 192 punchouts in 168 1/3 innings with only 53 bases on balls. He has a 2.09 career ERA after posting a 2.34 ERA at Mobile.
Thayer calls Huntington Beach, Calif., home and attended Edison High School before moving on to Chico State. Drafted by the Cubs in '99, he returned to school and signed with the Padres out of a tryout camp on Sept. 25, 2002.
"Thayer throws 90 to 93 [mph] and has a good slider," said Bill "Chief" Gayton, the Padres' director of scouting. "He has just kept getting people out."
Scout Mal Fichman signed Thayer after the Chico State junior pitched for Reno in the Grand Forks, N.D., International tournament in late August 2002. Fichman had been advised to keep tabs on Thayer by the brother of former National League MVP Kevin Mitchell.
"Tommy Mitchell, Kevin's brother, is a friend of mine," Fichman recalled, "and was playing third for Reno. He told me about Thayer and I saw him pitch twice.
"I called [Padres officials] Tye Waller and Bill Bryk and sat with Thayer and Mitchell at a picnic table in the Grand Forks ballpark. I invited him to the September tryout, and Tommy Mitchell took responsibility for getting the paper work completed and returned."
Thayer went to work at Class A Fort Wayne in '03 with overpowering stuff and was just as dominant in '04 at Class A Lake Elsinore, earning a promotion to Mobile by holding hitters to a .133 batting average with runners in scoring position.
While Thayer continues to impress the brass, several other Padres mound hopefuls had beneficial Winter League excursions.
Arturo Lopez (1.35 ERA for Hermosillo), Salvador Robles (3.52 ERA for Los Mochis) and Joakim Soria (1.45 ERA for Obregon) all have pitched capably in Mexico, while Mario Ramos (3.12 ERA for Escogido) excelled in the Dominican Republic and Brian Sweeney (4.08 ERA for Magallanes) was impressive in Venezuela.
Infielder Luis Cruz, who played at Mobile in '05, elevated his stock with a superb performance offensively and defensively for Navajoa in Mexico, batting .327 with 10 homers in 221 at-bats.
A natural shortstop, Cruz has played extensively at second base for Navajoa and needs higher-level Minor League experience to earn a promotion to the big time.
New Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, the former No. 1 overall draft choice from San Diego, hit for average (.306) and with power (10 homers in 258 at-bats) for Mazatlan while continuing to display excellent glove work.
Center fielder Freddy Guzman, still not ready to test his elbow after major surgery last spring wiped out his '05 season, started hot but faded in the Domincan Republic with Estrellas as a DH, batting .257.
Terrmel Sledge, acquired with Gonzalez from the Rangers in the six-player blockbuster, tested his hamstring after a tear cost him most of the '05 season with the Nationals and hit .258 against Puerto Rican pitching with three homers in 96 at-bats.
Expected to join Sledge in the Padres outfield, Ben Johnson struggled making consistent contact with Azucarreros in the Dominican Republic, batting .242.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Mailbag: PETCO to sport new look?

01/16/2006
What's the latest on moving in the fences at PETCO Park?-- Doug M., Carlsbad, Calif.
With Major League Baseball's official approval, the club is chopping off the extreme corner in deepest right-center, changing the 411 mark to 400.
The major benefits probably will be psychological, giving left-handed hitters a sense that they have a legitimate shot at going deep in what has come to be known as Death Valley.
While the impact won't be profound -- this is still a pitcher's dream park -- it will reduce some of the physical strain on center fielder Mike Cameron and right fielder Brian Giles. And, over the long, hot summer, that can be meaningful, given the huge roles both veterans will play.
The club calculates that the new configuration would have added 12 homers to last year's PETCO count, which was third lowest in the Major Leagues at 118.
The alterations will be made in time for the semifinals and championship game of the inaugural World Baseball Classic, scheduled for March 18 and 20 at PETCO Park.
Management also is considering alterations to the right-field bleachers after the 2006 season, the idea being to improve sight lines by redesigning the seats.
Do you think the Padres will make any moves to solidify the bullpen, or do they think they are in good shape with the arms they have?-- Wesley L., Mechanicsville, Va.
At the end of games, they still have a one-two punch with few -- if any -- equals, in Scott Linebrink and Hoffman. The questions revolve around the middle innings, replacing the solid work provided by Akinori Otsuka, Rudy Seanez and Chris Hammond, principally.
With input from Grady Fuson, the scouting and player development maven, general manager Kevin Towers feels confident the club has pieced together another potentially excellent relief corps.
Doug Brocail, originally a Padre, brings durability and toughness from Texas. Brian Sikorski flourished in Japan and could settle into the seventh-inning role vacated by Aki. Scott Cassidy looked solid late in the season, and Rule 5 choice Steve Andrade -- with an impressive Minor League resume -- could be a real sleeper. Lefties Rusty Tucker and Sean Thompson will get long looks in Spring Training.
Clay Hensley, who yearns to start, is also a possibility to return to middle relief, but he merits a shot at that No. 5 spot in the rotation. Seth Etherton, another Rule 5 pickup, could figure in long relief along with hard-throwing starting candidates Kenny Baugh and Dewon Brazelton.
Managing a bullpen always has been a strength of Bruce Bochy, who leans on his respected pitching coach, Darren Balsley.
How does the newly acquired Terrmel Sledge fit into the outfield picture? He had a good rookie year in Montreal, and his defense isn't that bad. -- Eenon P., Sacramento
The reports on Sledge, coming off a season wiped out by a hamstring tear, are mostly favorable. He's a versatile athlete with decent speed, and he can scald the ball. He has had a tendency to become too pull-conscious, but he'll correct that when he takes a good look at the PETCO Park dimensions.
Nationals manager Frank Robinson, I'm told, was sold on his potential and hated to see him go to Texas in the deal for Alfonso Soriano.
At the moment, Sledge shapes up as the fourth outfielder, right ahead of Ben Johnson. The 28-year-old can pick up the slack left by departed pinch-hitting stars Mark Sweeney and Robert Fick and be ready to move in for any of the three starters. He's a first-class insurance policy for now, with the talent to become a productive regular for years to come.
With all the new faces on the roster, do you think that this team will be able to create good enough chemistry to win the division?-- Mike H., Murrieta, Calif.
Chemistry is something that always evolves naturally. It can't be forced by a manager or GM saying, "This guy is a leader." Players gravitate to strong, charismatic personalities on their own, not with a guiding hand.
Leaders in their own way, the absence of Mark Loretta, Ramon Hernandez, Adam Eaton, Sweeney, Fick and Seanez, to name a few, will be noticable. But from everything I hear, from people inside the game I respect, Cameron, Vinny Castilla and Doug Mirabelli are tough-minded veterans with a history of leadership by example.
Clearly, the humor of Sweeney and Fick, who kept everybody loose and smiling, will be missed. But humorists invariably emerge in clubhouses. Giles, in his unique way, is hilarious. Maybe it will be Eric Young or Geoff Blum or David Ross or one of the new pitchers kicking in with the timely one-liners that have serious professionals falling out of their clubhouse chairs.
Only this is certain: Good chemistry lives in harmony with winning. An abundance of wins tends to solve everything.
Do you think Castilla can have a productive year (130 games, 20 HRs, 90 RBIs) or are we going to have a revolving door at third?-- Andrew H., San Mateo, Calif.
It definitely is within Castilla's capabilities to deliver consistent production, defensively as well as offensively. He's still rock-solid with the glove and will be revitalized by the soothing ocean breezes after a long summer in D.C. in a park that can drive a right-handed hitter a little daffy.
With his stroke, Vinny should lose some balls in the left-field seats and invade the Western Metal Supply Company on occasion with frequent visitor Khalil Greene. It is with this in mind that the club detached Sean Burroughs, who should benefit from a new Florida locale without the expectations placed on him in San Diego.
Burroughs is a good guy and always will be fondly remembered for that ultra-clutch two-run, two-out double in San Francisco -- the biggest single blow of the National League West title run, in my judgment. But Castilla also is a good guy, and he'll draw upon the pride of his countrymen and women of nearby Mexico to show everyone he's still a quality pro.
Didn't the Padres get a lot less than market value for Loretta in Mirabelli? Wouldn't a straight swap for David Wells have been a better deal?-- Scott E., Fayetteville, Ark.
The club thinks Mirabelli is in a situation similar to that of Loretta when he arrived in San Diego in 2003, in that he's a player incapable of holding a full-time job.
If Mirabelli can flourish as the regular catcher in anything close to the style that Loretta displayed in his three seasons as a Padre -- and if Josh Barfield emerges as a quality second baseman with the opportunity provided -- few people will be complaining about the deal next year at this time.
Of course, that's a tall order to fill. It's up to Mirabelli to show he's been a full-time catcher waiting in the shadows for a decade. He has solid defensive credentials and brings some pop.
In support are David Ross, Pete Laforest and Todd Greene. With muscle and knowledge of the division, Greene could arrive in May in the fashion of Fick and Damian Jackson last season to play a key role off the bench.
With such a logjam at second base and in the outfield, who will back up Greene at shortstop? It seems a little strange not to have a contingency plan given his injury problems over the past two seasons. -- Jeff N., Palm Desert, Calif.
Geoff Blum performed capably in Greene's absence early last season, and he's back to offer support at all four infield positions while providing some juice offensively. Bobby Hill and Mark Bellhorn also have the ability to fill in at short, even though both are more ideally suited to other positions -- third for Hill, second for Bellhorn.
Something tells me this is the season Greene takes it to the next level and emerges as one of the game's most exciting and productive performers. Faith in the young shortstop's multiple talents is one reason why management feels the club will be improved -- assuming he can get a little luckier and stay away from fractured digits.
Why didn't the team re-sign Pedro Astacio? He did a great job for us last year.-- Stan K., San Diego
The club did reach out to Astacio with a seven-figure offer, but he felt he could do better elsewhere. Only time will tell if the right-hander, who flourished in PETCO Park, will have another solid season in a different environment.
In Shawn Estes, the Padres feel they've found a left-handed version, of sorts, for Astacio. Estes is a smart, resourceful veteran who can make good things happen in San Diego, where he had plenty of success frustrating Padres hitters.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres play numbers game

01/17/2006
What's in a number? Identity, for one thing.
In San Diego, you really won't be able to tell the players without a scorecard at PETCO Park. That was never more evident than with the dramatically remodeled 2006 Padres, whose roster has been revamped with close to a 60 percent overhaul.
For those of you trying to keep up with the changes, here are the new numbers that will be attached to your Padres when they gather in Peoria, Ariz., in late February, introduce themselves to one another and embark on what promises to be a fascinating Spring Training.
2
2B/3B Bobby Hill
8
OF Terrmel Sledge
9
3B Vinny Castilla
11
C David Ross
23
1B Adrian Gonzalez
25
OF Mike Cameron
26
RHP Doug Brocail
27
INF Geoff Blum
28
C Doug Mirabelli
29
2B Mark Bellhorn
34
RHP Kenny Baugh
37
RHP Seth Etherton
39
C Pete Laforest
45
RHP Tim Stauffer
46
RHP Dewon Brazelton
50
RHP Brian Sikorski
55
RHP Chris Young
57
LHP Shawn Estes
60
2B Josh Barfield
62
C George Kottaras
63
LHP Sean Thompson
64
RHP Jared Wells
66
RHP Steve Andrade
Of note, Cameron, the new center fielder courtesy of the Mets, wore 44 in New York but that belongs to the ace, Jake Peavy. Cameron assumes the No. 25 vacated by coach Davey Lopes, who recently joined the Nationals staff.
Ross takes Mark Sweeney's No. 11, surrendering No. 9 to the great veteran, Castilla, who moves in at third base.
Mark Loretta's familiar No. 8 goes to Sledge, the left-handed-hitting outfielder acquired from Texas in the six-player blockbuster involving Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka.
Ramon Hernandez's No. 55 goes to 6-foot-10 starter Young, also acquired in the Texas swap. First baseman Gonzalez, the third player acquired in the deal, will wear No. 23.
Mirabelli, the new catcher, takes Joe Randa's No. 28.
Stauffer, bidding to reclaim a spot in the starting rotation, will wear No. 45 rather than the 47 he adorned last season.
Blum, Game 3 World Series hero for the White Sox, returns in the same No. 27 he wore in the first half for the Padres before he was dealt to Chicago.
Hill assumes Damian Jackson's No. 2, but nobody will fill the No. 13 occupied by Robert Fick.
Sikorski will grace Brian Lawrence's No. 50.
Bellhorn will compete with Barfield and veterans Blum, Hill and Eric Young for the second-base job wearing No. 29, last worn by reliever Chris Hammond.
Rudy Seanez's No. 37 goes to Etherton, a Rule 5 acquisition.
Baugh, acquired from the Tigers, takes Pedro Astacio's No. 34.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Around the Horn: Catchers

01/18/2006
SAN DIEGO -- A position that was a strength last season thanks to the combined efforts of Ramon Hernandez, Miguel Olivo and Robert Fick will be in new hands in 2006, leaving skeptical Padres fans with one hard question for management:
"Will we catch a break behind the plate?"
Penciled in to replace Hernandez, Olivo and Fick are Doug Mirabelli, David Ross, Pete Laforest and Todd Greene.
If these four names aren't inspiring grand visions in the public imagination, the Padres' decision-makers appear confident that the defensive-minded quartet can handle the job capably.
At the same time, nobody is suggesting that any of the four can hit like Hernandez, who signed with Baltimore as a free agent while Olivo (Florida) and Fick (Washington) also moved on to new environs.
"Ramon is not an easy guy to replace," Padres vice president/general manger Kevin Towers said. "We plan to get our offense elsewhere. I've heard the criticism about our catching. These guys are not chopped liver."
Mirabelli, acquired at the Winter Meetings from Boston in a controversial swap for second baseman Mark Loretta, apparently goes to Spring Training as the No. 1 guy -- something new for the 35-year-old career backup.
"He's got World Series experience and is a guy who's played meaningful games throughout his career," Towers said. "He has great leadership qualities, from what we hear.
"I like the ability of Mirabelli and Ross to handle pitchers. They are excellent defenders."
Mirabelli gets high marks from new Padres starter Shawn Estes, who pitched to him in San Francisco and has called Mirabelli "one of the three best catchers I've worked with."
It was in 2000 as a Giant when Mirabelli had his busiest season, playing 82 games and batting .230 with .337 on-base and .370 slugging marks. He's a .241 career hitter with .328 on-base and .425 slugging numbers across 11 seasons.
Mirabelli's best season with the bat came with the '04 Red Sox during their magical run to the World Series championship. Playing 59 games in support of Jason Varitek, specializing as knuckleballer Tim Wakefield's receiver, Mirabelli batted .281 with .368 on-base and .525 slugging marks.
If he can come anywhere close to those figures as a Padre, he'll go a long way in silencing critics of the Padres' offseason overhauling of the catching position.
Nobody can appreciate Mirabelli's defensive and leadership qualities better than Padres manager Bruce Bochy, who played the position and understands its demands and requirements.
Barring another move, Ross, Laforest and Greene are expected to compete for the No. 2 role.
Ross is no stranger to Padres pitchers, having spent considerable time with the 2005 club even though his playing time was minimal behind Hernandez, Olivo and Fick.
In 11 games, Ross made the most of 17 at-bats, hitting .353 with .389 on-base and .471 slugging marks. He's a .217 Major League hitter in 169 games, all but 51 with the Dodgers, for whom he made his professional debut in 1998 after starring at the University of Florida.
Ross' one extra-base hit for the Padres last season was memorable. His drive to the gap in right-center at PETCO Park resulted in a triple after a violent collision between the Mets' Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron, which ended the latter's season on Aug. 11.
Cameron, as fate would have it, is now Ross' teammate, having come to San Diego in exchange for Xavier Nady.
Ross, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., who turns 29 in March, played a career-high 70 games with the 2004 Dodgers, batting .170 with five homers and 15 RBIs. He's big and strong with a profile similar to Mirabelli's: solid defender with a strong arm who will hit with occasional power.
Pierre-Luc "Pete" Laforest, 28, was acquired on Dec. 9 on waivers from Tampa Bay.
A native of Hull, Quebec, who grew up playing hockey, Laforest helped drive his native Canada to the medal round in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.
A converted third baseman and the lone left-handed hitter in the group, Laforest is 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds. He hit .170 in 44 career games with Tampa Bay in 2003, and '05 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 112 at-bats.
In the Devil Rays' farm system, Laforest put together solid offensive numbers in 2002 and '03, showing selectivity and power.
Originally drafted by the Expos in the 16th round of the 1995 First-Year Player Draft, Laforest has a career Minor League batting average of .258 with 101 homers, 143 doubles and 374 RBIs in 681 games between the Montreal (1995) and Tampa Bay (1997-2005) organizations.
Greene, who signed a Minor League contract on Jan. 3, has shown power and solid defensive skills in a 10-year Major League career that began in 1996 with the Angels. They drafted and signed him out of Georgia Southern.
Greene, 34, batted .254 in 126 at-bats with the Rockies in 2005, with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. He was limited to just 38 games after suffering a strained right hamstring on June 5 against Cincinnati.
A native of Augusta, Ga., he played for the Angels, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rangers and Rockies, batting .248 with 69 home runs and 200 RBIs in 475 games. He produced a career-high 14 homers in '99 with the Angels and delivered 10 homers in three consecutive seasons (2002-04).
An excellent student of the game, Greene is expected to push for playing time in San Diego as the season progresses.
The long-term projections are highly encouraging. The club considers catching one of its deepest positions in the organization.
George Kottaras, considered by some the team's best position prospect, could be ready as soon as 2007, with Colt Morton and Nick Hundley also looming on the horizon.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres make big addition in Young

01/19/2006
SAN DIEGO -- They think they're getting better, but the Padres know for certain they're getting bigger.
In their largest move yet, anatomically speaking, they claimed first baseman Walter Young on waivers from the Orioles on Thursday.
At 6-foot-5 and 322 pounds, Young is believed to be the heaviest performer in organized baseball. Earlier this offseason, the Padres also acquired 6-foot-10 right-hander Chris Young from Texas. The pair of large Youngs, no relation, will be joined by Chris' former Rangers teammate, Doug Brocail, a 6-5 middle reliever.
Also in the mix is a pair of 6-4 right-handers, Dewon Brazelton and Kenny Baugh, who will compete for starting jobs in Spring Training.
Walter Young, a left-handed hitter with enormous power potential, has averaged 23 home runs, 27 doubles and 92 RBIs over his past four Minor League seasons in the Orioles and Pirates systems.
The promising slugger, who turns 26 on Feb. 18, made his Major League debut with the Orioles in 2005, batting .303 in 33 at-bats with one home run and three RBIs in 14 games. He was designated for assignment after the team signed Kevin Millar as a free agent.
With the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx of the International League, Walter batted .288 in 2005 with 13 homers and 81 RBIs in 123 games. He had 29 doubles and a .438 slugging mark.
Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the 31st round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Young was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in 2003. He spent the 2004 season dueling with the Phillies' Ryan Howard for the Eastern League home run and RBI crowns, falling short with 33 homers and 98 RBIs for Double-A Bowie, slugging .537 while batting .272.
A big man who swings hard but is selective, Young, from Purvis, Miss., has drawn comparisons at times with the Red Sox' slugger, David Ortiz. He moves well around the bag at first and has good hands.
In seven Minor League campaigns in the Baltimore (2004-05) and Pittsburgh (1999-2003) organizations, Young has a career batting average of .286 with 116 home runs, 137 doubles and 477 RBIs in 677 games.
With the addition of Young, the Padres are now scheduled to have 55 players report to Spring Training.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Padres short on power?

01/23/2006

How will the Padres compete without a legit power hitter? I mean, who scares you in their lineup? I say nobody.-- Blair H., Fairbanks, Ala.
You speak for a lot of fans concerned about the lack of muscle in the offense. Along with the catcher situation, it seems to be the major issue nagging at the faithful.
PETCO Park, by virtue of its dimensions, makes it difficult to launch a conventional attack built around bashers in the 3-4-5 slots. This team will try to put together rallies with walks, singles, doubles to the gaps and the occasional bomb. It's old-style National League baseball, predating the long-ball eruptions of recent seasons -- and it's a whole lot of fun, when it works.
The club has four men -- Ryan Klesko, Vinny Castilla, Mike Cameron and Khalil Greene -- capable of easily exceeding Klesko's club-high 18 homers in '05. Brian Giles is a 15- to 20-homer guy, and Doug Mirabelli, if he catches 120 games, could reach that 15-homer neighborhood.
While, granted, there's nobody there who will compete for the NL home run title, there's nothing wrong with having some pop up and down the lineup, rather than one monster in the No. 4 hole.
And who knows? Maybe the new bopper signed by GM Kevin Towers, Walter Young, will make an impact somewhere down the road. There's nobody bigger in the game than the 6-foot-5, 322-pound Young. If he gets his stroke down and cracks the lineup on occasion, I think he'll scare some pitchers.
Will the Padres give Young a fair chance to make the roster? The team already has two lefties in Klesko and Adrian Gonzalez at first base, but Young's Minor League numbers are very solid, very comparable to Ryan Howard's, and he turned out to be an elite player. Just like Gonzalez, Young has proven he deserves a shot in the Majors Leagues.-- Mario S., Ensenada, Mexico
Young certainly has some potential, adding even more intrigue to what's shaping up to be a fascinating Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz.
Based on past performance, Klesko is clearly in the driver's seat at first base. My best guess is that Gonzalez will play in the late innings with leads and start once or twice a week, getting familiar with all of the new surroundings.
Gonzalez, I suspect, is the long-term answer at the position in management's designs, a player capable of becoming a reasonable facsimile of J.T. Snow, a player I've long admired.
Young figures to open the season at Triple-A Portland, but he will get every opportunity to bust his way onto the Padres' roster, along with Paul McAnulty, another left-handed bat. It won't be easy replacing the timely hits delivered by Mark Sweeney and Robert Fick, but Young and/or McAnulty could be answers.
Do you think the Padres' bench will produce the same quality of play as it did the past two years?-- Joshua J., San Diego
The "Red Alert" squad, so named by Eric Young, was an essential factor in the club's drive to the NL West title. Finding the right talents and personalities to mesh again will be one of manager Bruce Bochy's major challenges.
Sweeney and Fick offered solid production from the left side of the plate, but Terrmel Sledge, Gonzalez, Young or McAnulty could be the ones to take over in their place. All three of these guys can hit -- it's just a question of whether they can respond in the ninth, with the pressure on. Only time will tell.
Geoff Blum, his confidence soaring after his magical World Series moment with the world champion White Sox, will provide pop. Mark Bellhorn, if he doesn't wrest the second-base job away from rookie Josh Barfield, also will be a valuable part, along with Young and Bobby Hill.
The outfield will have depth with Sledge, Ben Johnson and Young supporting Dave Roberts, Cameron and Giles.
It remains to be seen how the bench will perform. The assembled talent is impressive enough; how it performs when pulses accelerate is the issue.
With players including Jake Peavy playing in the World Baseball Classic, what happens if someone gets hurt, or -- even worse -- is out for the season? Does the team have any say in its players playing or not? Will it interfere with Spring Training? -- Sherrie D., Lakeside, Calif.
There are concerns about WBC performers trying to do too much, too soon. Ideally, these games would be played in the middle of the season, during a break, or after the World Series, but this is what we have now, and every precaution will be taken to make sure no players are overtaxed. All of the clubs agreed to cooperate and will not hold players out of WBC play if they're eligible and healthy.
Pitchers, such as Peavy, will be handled carefully, with pitch limits imposed. You'll likely see five to 10 pitchers working each game for each country. That will slow the pace of the games, but the concessions people won't complain.
I like Bochy's attitude about this. He is happy that Peavy will have a shot at pitching for Team USA and that Castilla will line up for his native Mexico, which also has Gonzalez on its roster.
Bochy thinks veteran players are intelligent enough and aware enough of their bodies to not jeopardize their seasons or careers in an exhibition -- even one on a global stage.
As for Spring Training, most of these players are smart enough to get their regular work in whether they're with the team that employs them or a national team. You don't reach this level without understanding what you need to do to succeed.
This is all new, so nobody knows for certain what to expect. We can only hope it goes off smoothly and no club's title chances are compromised.
Will Bochy give Barfield a chance at the starting job at second or will he play the veterans like he did with Xavier Nady?-- Larry A., El Cajon, Calif.
My sense is that Barfield will get every opportunity to seize the job with an excellent showing in Spring Training. Management recognizes the need to get more athletic, and Barfield has been considered the club's best position prospect for several years. It's time to see if he's ready.
This is not to suggest that the four veterans -- Bellhorn, Blum, Hill and Young -- won't be given long looks as well. There's nothing wrong with healthy competition. It comes down to performance and production. Bochy, I'm sure, will play the man who earns it. Like all managers, he's judged by the bottom line.
Why do the Padres think it's a good idea to move in the fences to enable the opposing team to launch numerous home runs just like they used to do at the old Jack Murphy Stadium or the Q?-- Donald A., San Diego
They're trying to make things a little more equitable for left-handed hitters. It's not that big of a deal, really. It won't alter the seating in the area, and the impact on the game won't be terribly significant.
They're lopping off nine feet, from 411 feet to 402, at the deepest area of the park in right-center. It might mean a dozen more homers in 2006, and that number will probably be evenly divided between the Padres and the visitors. It's still a pitcher's park.
The big plus is that it will cut down on the mileage over the course of the season for Cameron and Giles. Keeping those two valuable performers fresh and healthy could make the difference in the NL West race.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Youth versus experience

01/23/2006
When is Walter Young going to get a real shot in the Major Leagues? He showed late last season that he can compete. Wouldn't the O's be better off with him than an aging Jeff Conine or Kevin Millar?-- Daniel D., Charlotte, N.C.
That depends on your perspective. Would you rather go into the season with a proven Major League hitter or wait for a guy who may or may not ever hit at the next level? The Orioles decided to go into the season with proven commodities at first base and designated hitter, and Young was claimed off waivers by the Padres on Thursday.
The Orioles understood that putting Young on waivers was a risk, but they felt it was a necessary move. Millar's signing meant that Baltimore had one too many players on its 40-man roster, and Young just happened to be the odd man out. That's how waivers work -- and if you'll recall, they worked in the Orioles' favor when they acquired the hefty left-handed hitter.
Young, weighing in at 320 pounds, is limited by his size to one position -- first base. Millar and Conine, by contrast, can move around the diamond and even play some left or right field. But this move wasn't about positional flexibility, even though that's one of Baltimore's favorite phrases this winter. This was about track record, and Young doesn't have one in the Major Leagues.
The 25-year-old spent six years in Class A ball and didn't get any experience against upper-level pitching until 2004, when he joined the Orioles organization. He crushed the ball at Double-A Bowie that year, but he didn't show the same power with Triple-A Ottawa in 2005. This year, he seemed set for an encore season at Ottawa and a late-season promotion to Baltimore.
Over time, Young may well become a big-league hitter, but the Orioles felt more comfortable with people who have done it before. And, yes, it's fair to call Conine and Millar "aging" and wonder if they were the right fits for this team. Despite that caveat, you have to like both players' chances of outhitting Young in 2006. After that, it's back to the drawing board.
I read that Jeromy Burnitz backed away from the Orioles because of their "Draconian" physical exam demands. Can you elaborate?-- Todd P., Virginia Beach
Like many things, the truth on the Burnitz situation depends on who you talk to. Baltimore's management is adamant that Burnitz backed out of a deal, but agent Howard Simon insists that no deal was ever completed. Simon said that Burnitz was very close to signing with Baltimore, except for a problem with some of the contract language regarding the physical examination.
Jim Duquette, the Orioles' vice president of baseball operations, is confident that nothing in the team's contract language is out of the ordinary. In fact, he said that he even sent a copy to the league office and was told that the legal jargon is "middle of the road" -- in other words, not over the top and not overly simple, either.
The basic truth seems to be that Burnitz just flat-out changed his mind on where he wanted to play. And it wasn't a monetary or security decision, either, because he took one fewer year to stay in the National League and play for Pittsburgh. The contract language appears to be an overblown issue, but it may have been a way to extend his negotiating window with both sides.
Are the Orioles trying to trade Jay Gibbons, or are they willing to sign him to a long-term contract?-- Denny T., Blissfield, Mich.
There's no indication that Baltimore is actively shopping Gibbons, who's eligible for arbitration and should be the team's everyday starter in right field. There are reports that the Orioles are working on a multi-year deal with Gibbons, which would keep him in Baltimore beyond his first eligibility for free agency.
At this point, that would appear to be a prudent move. Gibbons has come a long way since first joining the organization as a Rule 5 Draft pick in 2001, and he's developed into a somewhat dependable player. He can play a corner outfield position and provide some left-handed pop, but he's not the world's most patient hitter.
Gibbons has never raised his on-base percentage above .330, but he was within two points of his career mark (.315) last season. That's below average for outfielders, but his slugging percentage -- .516 -- made up for that in 2005. Gibbons will turn 29 shortly before Opening Day, and he should be able to repeat last season's performance.
Is there value in that? Consider Burnitz, who posted a .322 on-base percentage last season and signed for $6 million this winter. Gibbons is eight years younger, which means that at least some of his best baseball may be in front of him. Plus, he's a player Baltimore has invested time in, which is why it would make more sense to keep him around.
Burnitz didn't become a full-time starter until he was 28, another point in Gibbons' favor. Signing Gibbons to a multi-year deal would show the rest of the Orioles -- and the fans, for that matter -- that Baltimore values keeping its own players in the fold. After a hectic winter, a move like that could pay dividends beyond the ones on the playing field.
Why doesn't David Newhan get the respect that he deserves? Sure, he had a rough season in '05, but he crushed it in '04. Why don't the O's bring him up again and stick him in left field?-- George D., Salisbury, Md.
Newhan's getting respect just by getting a shot in Spring Training. He hit just .202 last year, and his 2004 season looks like it may have been a fluke success story. Like Young, he wasn't a high draft pick, and the vast majority of his experience has come against Minor League competition, which makes it hard to judge his true value as a big-league hitter.
With that said, Newhan may be stretched as a starter, but he provides the team value as a reserve with his ability to play multiple positions. The 32-year-old may get squeezed off the Opening Day roster, but he'll likely be back at some point during the season to fill in for an injured regular. Just by doing that, the son of a sportswriter has already defied the odds.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Around the Horn: Corner infielders

01/25/2006
The apparent absence of offensive muscle is a common lament among Padres fans as they inspect the reshaped 2006 roster and wonder where manager Bruce Bochy will find power outlets.
In a perfect world -- and where can it be more perfect than celestial San Diego? -- the corner infield positions will generate significantly more offensive firepower than they did during the club's 82-80 run to the National League West title in '05.
Bochy will be looking for production from new performers at both first and third, where strength will be found in numbers. Last April's starters, Phil Nevin and Sean Burroughs, are in Texas and Tampa Bay, respectively, and those who replaced them over the course of the '05 season -- Mark Sweeney, Robert Fick, Xavier Nady, Joe Randa -- also have new homes.
Ryan Klesko will make the move back to the infield from his adventures in left. The hope is that the burden will be less taxing on his sometimes fragile frame and that he'll return in his walk year to the form that once made him a feared slugger.
"Klesko should be healthier and happier at first, which will help his offense," general manager Kevin Towers said.
Should Klesko falter, either physically or in performance, there will be no shortage of options.
Adrian Gonzalez, the No. 1 overall pick by Florida in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft out of San Diego, will showcase excellent defensive skills along with a bat that has made impressive noises in the Minor Leagues as well as in Mexico's Winter League.
Acquired in the six-player blockbuster with Texas, Gonzalez is No. 2 on the depth chart. At 23, in a new environment and a new league, he'll ideally get occasional playing time in support of Klesko while appearing in the late innings protecting leads with his glove work.
Also bidding to force their way onto the roster are three left-handed hitters: Paul McAnulty, Walter Young and Jack Cust.
McAnulty, from Oxnard, Calif., and Long Beach State, has been a productive hitter everywhere he has played. Calling to mind former Padre John Kruk in hitting style and appearance, McAnulty has impressed Bochy with his work ethic and attitude. He can play left field as well as first.
Young, a masher taken on waivers after the Orioles released him, could be a sleeper. He's a big man at 6-foot-5 and 322 pounds, and he doesn't get cheated.
Calling the acquisition a "no-brainer at $20,000," Towers said he'd love to see Young make a push for a roster spot. He batted .303 in 30 at-bats with the Orioles in '05.
Known for his plate discipline and occasionally compared with Klesko, Cust batted .257 in '05 with a club-high 19 home runs and 75 RBIs in 134 games for the A's Triple-A Sacramento River Cats affiliate.
Originally a first-round pick of the Diamondbacks in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Cust has a career batting average of .220 in 141 Major League at-bats with five home runs and 19 RBIs while performing for Arizona, Colorado and Baltimore.
Across the field, another crowd has formed around Castilla, acquired from the Nationals for starter Brian Lawrence on Nov. 3.
The Padres are looking for more muscle from a position that yielded a slender total of five homers and 37 RBIs from Burroughs and Randa in 507 combined at-bats in '05.
The issue with Castilla is his age, not his talent or attitude. At 38, he knows he must show that he hasn't lost bat speed or quickness in the field, that he's still an asset after putting together subpar numbers (.253, 12 homers, 66 RBIs) for Washington in cavernous RFK Stadium in '05.
"I saw no fall-off in Castilla last year," Towers said. "He did have some knee problems, but our reports are good. I think he'll play 120 to 130 games."
This is a man with 315 homers and 1,078 RBIs along with a .278 batting average across 13 full seasons, a two-time All-Star.
The Padres are convinced he'll find left field at PETCO Park accessible with his stroke -- and that he'll be revitalized by the Pacific breezes and proximity to his native Mexico.
"He's known around the game as a leader, and we think he'll be tremendously popular with our Mexican fan base," Towers said. "We're delighted to add a player of Vinny's caliber."
In support of Castilla are three veterans who plan to show they're capable of playing every day -- Mark Bellhorn, Geoff Blum and Bobby Hill. All three also are in the hunt at second base along with rookie Josh Barfield and veteran Eric Young.
Bellhorn and Blum bring power and solid defense to the position, while Hill is known for his ability to get on base and save runs with his glove.
"We feel we have a lot of depth at both corner spots," Towers said. "We think we'll improve our production at the corners."

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Padres confident with '05 draft class

01/27/2006
The final analysis won't be available for several years, but the Padres feel they mined a rich supply of gold in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, from first-round picks Cesar Carrillo and Cesar Ramos down through the ranks.
"We feel like it was a great draft," said Grady Fuson, the club's chief of scouting and development. "We got a lot of young players who have a shot at having outstanding careers."
Venturing forward with a bold new design under club president Sandy Alderson, the former A's championship architect who believes in building from within with a lush crop of farm hands, the Padres were thrilled with the early returns on their '05 draft class.
In our first installment, we focused on the top four picks: pitchers Carrillo and Ramos, third baseman Chase Headley and catcher Nick Hundley. This time around in "Four Prospects to Get Excited About," we'll zero in on nuggets found in later rounds.
LHP Brent CarterTaken in Round 16, the 488th player chosen, Carter quickly established that he could be one of the steals of the '05 First-Year Player Draft.
A 6-foot-3, 195-pound performer from the University of Alabama, Carter was nothing short of spectacular in his stints with the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League and the Fort Wayne Wizards of the Midwest League, both Class A organizations.
At Eugene, he was 4-2 with a 1.88 ERA in 13 starts, but the numbers that best expressed his work were his 66 strikeouts and seven walks in 72 innings. He allowed only 68 baserunners.
Moving up to Fort Wayne, it was more of the same: 13 strikeouts and one walk in 12 innings, winning both his starts while allowing one run and seven hits for a 0.75 ERA.
"He's a touch/feel lefty with plus-command," Fuson said. "He's got a good curveball and changeup, with a fastball that's soft but deceptive. He killed in his first year."
Alabama's all-time strikeout leader, Carter was 25-11 in college with a 3.67 ERA. He is expected to open the 2006 at Fort Wayne.
"I was really surprised when I saw my name come up," said Carter, whose 'Bama moundmate, Trey Shields, was taken earlier by the A's. "I was really expecting to be drafted by the Athletics. They had been talking to me for some time.
"I was also surprised to see my name on the first day. I was really expecting late second day or maybe even a free agent, senior sign. I am very happy."
From Americus, Ga., Carter could make his homestate Braves regret not making him their own. Southpaws who figure out ways to consistently frustrate hitters tend to last a long time. If there's a model for Carter to follow, it would seem to be the great Tom Glavine, whose remarkable command and poise made him one of the game's great pitchers for years, notably with the Braves.
RHP Neil Jamison A sixth-round selection, No. 188 overall, Jamison teamed with Ramos on the Long Beach State pitching staff and is determined to join the lefty on the big club down the road. Here's a candidate to someday follow in Trevor Hoffman's history-making footsteps.
If first impressions are any indication, Jamison could make it to San Diego sooner than later to begin the grooming process.
He couldn't have been more dominant his senior year with the Dirtbags of Long Beach State. He was 4-0 with 11 saves and did not allow an earned run in 29 2/3 innings, limiting hitters to a .158 batting average.
Moving from the campus life to Eugene, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander was lights-out in 25 appearances. Across 27 1/3 innings, Jamison struck out 31 with eight walks. He saved eight games and was 1-2 with a 1.32 ERA.
Taking it up a notch at Fort Wayne, he continued to flourish with 12 strikeouts and five walks in 10 innings, going 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He could return to Fort Wayne to start the '06 season or move up a notch to Class A Lake Elsinore of the California League.
"He was a late-inning stud all through college and continued in his first pro year," Fuson said. "He has an 88-90 fastball with a good slider. He's an outstanding strike thrower, missing bats down in the zone with a low, three-quarters delivery. He has presence, confidence and instincts on the mound with a history of success."
The game is in Jamison's blood. His father, Tom, played baseball at Santa Clara, and his mother, Kathy, was a softball player at San Diego State.
The Padres are Neil's hometown team. He hails from Ramona, in North San Diego County. As a high school senior, he also showed he could hit, setting a school record with 11 homers while batting .429.
OF Will Venable In the seventh round, No. 218 overall, Venable was chosen with a basketball pedigree. A star at Princeton, he was the team's two-time MVP, a complete player who showed the ability to elevate his game under pressure. In the 2005 NCAA tournament, he had 16 points and eight rebounds in the Tigers' first-round loss to Texas.
Clearly, given his background, he has the intelligence and athleticism to make an impact along with the ideal frame at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.
His bloodlines also are impressive. Father Max Venable was a Major League outfielder for four clubs across 12 seasons, starting in 1979 with the Giants. Max now serves the Padres as a Minor League coach. Will's mother, Molly, was a college basketball player.
Venable spent the third and fourth grades in Japan while his father was playing there.
"He's a very intelligent kid with off-the-chart makeup," Jeff Kingston, the Padres' director of baseball operations, said of the San Rafael, Calif., native. "He's very tough mentally, loves challenges, works very hard and is always optimistic."
A league 200-meter sprint champion in high school, Venable has a power/speed combination that also impressed the Orioles, who drafted him in the 15th round after his junior year at Princeton.
Venable debuted with the Arizona Rookie League Padres, batting .322 in 15 games with a .385 on-base and .508 slugging marks. Moving up to Eugene, he batted .216 with .295 on-base and .324 slugging, experiencing predictable growing pains. He's expected to open the '06 season at Fort Wayne.
"He's very athletic and strong," Fuson said of Venable, whose baseball experience at Princeton was somewhat limited although he did power the Tigers into the NCAA tournament, batting .344 with 20 RBIs in 96 at-bats. "He's raw and green, with a lot of swings and misses, but he has a great body and strength to work with."
Long ago, the Padres did quite well in signing a noted college basketball player with a profile similar to Venable's.
Dave Winfield played his way into the Hall of Fame after coming to San Diego from the University of Minnesota, gracing the Padres' oufield for his first eight Major League seasons.
Now serving on the Padres' board of directors, a vice president/senior advisor, Winfield is a strong presence who should have some valuable counsel to offer young Venable along the way.
LHP Geoff Vandel Another late-round lefty from Georgia, this Columbus native fell to the Padres in the 34th round, No. 1,058 overall. Like Carter, Vandel left an immediate impression with his ability to frustrate hitters.
"A great low draft pick," Fuson said. "He throws 87 to 91 with a good curveball, both with fair command. He has a herky-jerky delivery that needs to be cleaned up, but we like this kid a lot."
The 22nd pitcher and seventh southpaw taken by the Friars in the draft, Vandel, 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, is from Shaw High School in Columbus.
The Padres have a decided preference for college pitchers but don't mind taking an occasional shot at teens with upside -- and Vandel clearly fits the description.
Showing he wasn't at all intimidated by playing with older guys in the Arizona League, Vandel was 0-1 and fashioned a 1.35 ERA in 10 appearances covering 20 innings. With 30 strikeouts and seven walks, he was the dominant reliever at that level.
Climbing a rung, he continued to do the job at Eugene in two starts. Across 10 innings, he struck out 11 and walked one, giving up one run on eight hits for a 0.90 ERA.
Vandel is expected to open the 2006 season at Fort Wayne on a staff that also probably will include Carter. The two lefties from Georgia can compare notes as they prepare to make their march toward San Diego.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Piazza to sign one-year deal with Padres

01/29/2006
Packing a Hall of Fame bat along with some well-worn tools of intelligence, Mike Piazza is returning to Southern California, where it all began.
In yet another move to enhance its chances to successfully defend their National League West title, the Padres and 12-time All-Star catcher Mike Piazza agreed on Sunday to a one-year, $2 million contract.
Piazza, 37, made his reputation with the Dodgers before they shocked their fans by trading Tommy Lasorda's godson to the Florida Marlins in 1998. Soon Piazza was on his way to Broadway, starring for the New York Mets while continuing to rack up tremendous offensive numbers.
The all-time leading home-run producer among catchers with 374, Piazza has 397 total homers and is a .311 career hitter.
The deal, expected to be announced on Monday, includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million, according to The Associated Press.
"The Padres told Mike that he could pretty much catch as much as he wanted to," Piazza's agent, Dan Lozano, told AP.
Piazza is expected to share the job with Doug Mirabelli, acquired from Boston in exchange for second baseman Mark Loretta at the Winter Meetings in December.
Piazza told Padres GM Kevin Towers that he feels he can catch between 70 and 90 games while playing first base occasionally against left-handers and serving as the club's DH in Interleague Play.
Piazza fell to .251 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 113 games with the Mets in 2005, starting 100 behind the plate. With Paul Lo Duca arriving from Florida to handle catching duties, Piazza was deemed expendable.
Piazza has a .382 career on-base percentage and always has been regarded as a complete hitter. As much as he struggled in '05, he'd have led the Padres with his 19 homers -- and likely will be their cleanup man when he's in the lineup, hitting between Brian Giles and Ryan Klesko.
Klesko, who led San Diego with 18 homers in '05, is moving from left field to first base. Piazza's former Mets teammate, Mike Cameron, will be in center field with Dave Roberts moving to left.
The Padres won the division with an 82-80 record, but management was disappointed by attendance down the stretch. The front office has turned over more than half the roster since getting swept three straight by the Cardinals in the NLDS.
With Ramon Hernandez (Orioles), Miguel Olivo (Marlins) and Robert Fick (Nationals) all leaving via free agency, the Padres needed to completely restructure the catching position.
Mirabelli, a career backup, came from Boston, with David Ross, Pete Laforest and Todd Greene in support.
The Yankees and Angels appeared to be in the driver's seat for Piazza, who figured to launch his comeback as a DH. But the Yankees, with Bernie Williams returning, passed on Piazza, and the Angels didn't move in on the feared slugger. The Indians and Orioles also expressed interest, but he apparently felt the call of the Pacific.
The Padres, who'd wanted to sign Piazza for less than $2 million, made their offer Saturday night, and Piazza accepted on Sunday.
Piazza reportedly had also considered playing for the Phillies. He grew up near Philadelphia in Norristown, hometown of Lasorda. The Hall of Fame manager is close friends with Vince Piazza, Mike's father.
Piazza told Towers he wanted to play "with a competitive team in a desirable city."
Towers feels Piazza's positive experience in Los Angeles -- Mike enjoyed the social scene and was comfortable with the beach life -- factored into his decision.
The catching position traditionally takes its toll, and Piazza has been hindered by a variety of injuries in recent seasons. He is respected by pitchers for his ability to call a game but has well-documented problems throwing out baserunners.
With Mirabelli, highly regarded for his defensive ability, Piazza gives the Padres both dimensions behind the plate. It will be up to manager Bruce Bochy to figure out how best to capitalize on their talents.
Piazza was acquired by the Mets in a trade with Florida in May 1998, eight days after he was shipped from the Dodgers to the Marlins in a blockbuster deal that also included Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Todd Zeile.
Piazza, who made $16 million while catching 100 games last year, led the Mets to the 2000 Subway World Series, which was claimed by the Yankees.
The Padres will have to move a player off their 40-man roster before signing Piazza.

Source: http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/

Report: Piazza to sign with Padres

01/29/2006
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- All-Star catcher Mike Piazza agreed Sunday to a $2 million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a marquee player they think can still contribute.
Piazza, 37, had been interested in signing a free-agent deal with an AL team to become a designated hitter. Instead, he'll stay in the NL and return to the West Coast for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to Florida in 1998.
The 12-time All-Star holds the Major League record for most career home runs by a catcher (374). He has 397