As the 2011 baseball season draws closer, most of the padre fans have forgotten about even having a team. Most say that the team’s chance ended this season before it evening started, when the hometown hero Adrian Gonzalez was shipped off to Boston for a hand full of prospects. But we have to give credit where credit is do, the first baseman stated it would cost a lot to keep him in San Diego after the 2011 season. So the very smart and eager to win GM Jed Hoyer pulled the trigger for the future of the franchise and also pulling many triggers for the 2011 season, So lets take a look. This is only a post spring training lineup prediction.

1st-Brad Hawpe, 2nd-Orlando Hundson, 3rd-Chase Headley(if chase is sent to AAA to work on his swing you might see Jorge’ Cantu here)

ss-Jason Bartlett , c-Nick Hundley (as with him as with chase,you might see a mix of Rob Johnson/Greg Zaun. LF-Ryan Ludwick,

CF-Cameron Maybin, RF-Will Venable and if he doesn’t stay Constance you also might see J.Cantu there as well.

Bench wise look like this:Oscar Salazar,Aaron Cunningham,Chris Denorfia,Eric Patterson,Everth Cabrera, And new comer from AAA Mike Baxter.

possibly the starting lineup:

1.Maybin 2.Hudson 3.Bartlett 4.Ludwick 5.Hawpe 6.Headley 7.Venable/or Cantu. 8.Hundley/Zaun/Johnson 9.Pichter

keep and mind this team age avg-28 and the all been told their careers are coming to the down side so they a have a chip on the shoulder, which I think might just motivate in a WS ring!

The San Diego Padres have found their second basement for the 2009 season. David Eckstein and the Padres signed a one year contract on Wednesday. Eckstein is expected to make around $1 million in the one year deal. Eckstein hit .265 in 324 at-bats last season between stints with the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks.

I would expect to see Eckstein hitting in the number two spot for the Padres as he is a good contact hitter and usually puts the ball in play. He does not hit for power, but he will put the ball in play and get on base. Exactly what the Padres need at the top of the order.

Padres Blog

The San Diego Padres have re-signed Mark Prior and signed Chris Burke to one year contracts. Both players will be invited to spring training as well. Prior will make $1 million if he makes it to the big leagues and pitches in a game. Burke is expected to make $650,000 if he makes it to the big leagues and plays in a game.

I would have to say that Burke has a better shot of making the team then Prior just because we are unsure if Prior is healthy for the first time since 2006. I’d love for Prior to make the team and be a middle of the rotation starter but right now he has so many question marks it is unkown.

Either way both signings are pretty cheap and exactly what kind of contracts the Padres needed to sign them to.

Padres Blog

The San Diego Padres traded away shortstop Khalil Greene to the St. Louis Cardinals for Minor League right-hander Mark Worrell and a player to be named later on Thursday. The deal was first rumored on Wednesday but the both clubs did not make it official until Thursday.

Worrell was 3-3 with a 2.15 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings with Triple-A Memphis in 2008. He has 84 Minor League saves since being selected by the Cards in the 12th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

The Padres will have until April 1 to choose the other player in the trade. General manager Kevin Towers said that the player would be just as good as Worrell if not better once they choose the player. It is expected to be another pitching prospect.

With the move it sheds away the huge contract that Greene was to be paid next year. The team will probably be playing under a $40 millon dollar payroll in 2009 so they need to cut all the salary that they can and build for the future.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres Transaction
10-8-2008:
Sent RHP Kevin Cameron and 2B Craig Stansberry outright to Triple-A Portland. Activated RHP Tim Stauffer from the 60-day disabled list and sent him outright to Triple-A Portland
10-10-2008:
Activated C Michael Barrett from the 60-day disabled list and sent him outright to Triple-A Portland. Claimed INF Travis Denker off waivers from the San Francisco Giants
10-14-2008:
Sent OF Chip Ambres outright to Triple-A Portland. He refused the assignment and is a free agent.

The San Diego Padres Transactions:
10-2-2008:
Activated SS Khalil Greene and OF Scott Hariston from the 15-day disabled list.
10-6-2008:
Sent C Luke Carlin and SS Sean Kazmar outright to Triple-A Portland. C Josh Bard and LHP Shawn Estes cleared waivers and have elected to become free agents.
Other involving the Padres:
Toronto Blue Jays
Claimed RHP Dirk Hayhurst off waivers from the San Diego Padres

The Greg”maddog”maddux trade keeps giving

9-30-08 San Diego Padres
Acquired LHP Michael Watt and RHP Eduardo Perez from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The San Diego Padres latest transactions:
9/12/08 Outrighted RHP Brian Falkenborg to Triple-A Portland
9/11/08 Claimed RHP Scott Patterson off outright waivers from the New York Yankees. Transferred C Michael Barrett to the 60-day disabled list.
9/10/08 Claimed RHP Charlie Haeger off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
9/4/08 Sent 1B Brian Myrow outright to Triple-A Portland

The San Diego Padres

9-6-2008:

Recalled OF Drew Macias and RHP Mike Ekstrom from Double-A San Antonio.

The San Diego Padres

9-2-2008:

Recalled C Luke Carlin from Triple-A Portland. Purchased the contract of OF Chip Ambres from Triple-A Portland.