![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - Today the Padres added to their bench by selecting veteran utility infielder Alex Cora (left) in the second round of the 2011 Waiver Draft. Cora's selection completes the Padres' 2011 roster. Cora adds experience to the backup infielder group. "We have a lot of youth on our bench. We felt it would be best to grab a guy that's done it for many years and is able to play any position."
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![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - The San Diego Padres have selected infielder Chris Valaika (left) with their first round pick of the 2011 Waiver Draft. The 25 year old from Santa Monica, CA has experience at second base and third base, positions where he'll see limited duty for the Padres this season. "We can't promise the kid a lot of playing time, but hopefully he can show us something when we do get him out on the field," manager Tim Stoops said. SAN DIEGO, CA - The San Diego Padres announced today their 11 cuts heading into the 2011 regular season. Most notably leaving is Eric Chavez, the team's starting third baseman from 2000 to 2008. The former first-round pick ends his Padres career with 225 home runs and 701 RBI to go with a .248 batting average. Other infielders on their way out are Ronnie Belliard, Joe Crede, Drew Sutton, and Lance Zawadzki. Belliard and Crede, acquired this offseason in trades, never played a game for the Padres. The same goes for Zawadzki, an undrafted rookie free agent. Sutton played in 22 games for the Padres last season.
Fan favorite Tony Gwynn Jr. was also waived today in order to make room on the roster for Reggie Willits, a very similar player that the Padres hope can perform better with the bat. Two undrafted free agent outfielders, Luis Durango and Matt Stairs, were also cut today by San Diego. Behind the plate, catcher Paul Phillips is also packing his bags. Phillips was a major contributor in 2010, despite seeing limited duty. In 25 games he hit .322 and had a key hit against Atlanta in the NLCS to help the Padres win the series. On the mound, pitchers Bartolo Colon and Sean White have been dropped after just one season in San Diego. Colon started 17 games in 2010, notching a 6-8 record. White appeared in 59 games and posted a 10-3 record with a 2.67 ERA. He won the NLCS MVP award for his amazing pitching against Atlanta four months ago. SAN DIEGO, CA - In order to reduce the roster to 29, the Padres today said goodbye to 12 players. They are: Eliezer Alfonzo, Brandon Backe, Chris Burke, Jolbert Cabrera, Chad Cordero, Chris Coste, Shawn Estes, Nick Evans, Warner Madrigal, Yusmeiro Petit, Duaner Sanchez and Doug Waechter. This means that oft-injured third baseman Eric Chavez has been protected though the club already knows he will not be available for the 2010 season, and possibly beyond.
Burke, an infielder, and Coste, a catcher, never suited up for the Padres. Coste could rejoin the team as the Padres would like to acquire a third-string catcher with one of their two waiver picks. Alfonzo and Cabrera now hold the distinction of being waived by the Padres on two separate occasions. Cabrera enjoyed a successful return to the Padres in 2009, hitting .299 while making appearances in the infield and outfield. Estes, Madrigal, Sanchez and Waechter have been cut after spending one season on the Padres pitching staff. "They were each valuable contributors to our '09 staff, but had to go to make room for the pitching we got in the rookie draft two months ago," manager Tim Stoops stated. Evans played one average season for the Padres, making spot starts in the outfield and at first base. Petit was a contributor to the starting rotation for two seasons after the Padres made him a 2008 Rookie Draft second-round selection. The team's acquisition of Luke French spelled the end of Petit's career as a Padre. The most difficult cut was Cordero. After two sparkling seasons as the Padres closer, Cordero had major arm injuries that cost him the entire 2009 season and the upcoming 2010 season. The team could not afford to keep him for another year. |
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