![]() 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.
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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 - The San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals pulled off a minor trade today, swapping infielders Bobby Crosby and Ronnie Belliard (left). "We wanted a player with championship experience," the Nationals GM said of Crosby. The backup shortstop played in 47 games for the 2010 World Series Champion Padres, hitting a disappointing .188 on the season. Belliard, 35 years old, may not have a spot on the 2011 Padres roster. "This may be a cut for a cut trade. We'll see. Maybe this frees us up to make another move," Padres manager Tim Stoops said to the media. ![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - Hoping to move up in the fifth round, the Padres found a willing partner in the Cincinnati Reds. By acquiring the Reds' early fifth rounder, the Padres got the chance to select a sleeper prospect at shortstop, Ozzie Martinez. The 22 year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico is not expected to have much of a role for the 2011 Padres, making him similar to Padres first rounder Brent Morel. "Ozzie could be a real steal for us because he's hit everywhere he's played," Padres manager Tim Stoops boasted. "We can afford to make another long-term future pick like this because the pressure to win a World Series is now off of us. At least for a little while." ![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - Following the trade of Garret Anderson and a serious injury to Jacoby Ellsbury, the Padres felt it was time to grab an outfielder in the fourth round of the 2011 Rookie Draft. Reggie Willits became the newest member of the Padres and figures to see a lot of action in the San Diego outfield. The 29 year-old outfielder hails from Chickasha, Oklahoma. "We like his speed, both on the bases and in our spacious outfield at Petco Park," Padres manager Tim Stoops said. "He can also switch hit and has a good understanding of the strike zone." ![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - After waiting for the second round to pass without making a selection, the San Diego Padres selected 33 year-old starting pitcher Bruce Chen late in the third round. The lefty hurler is a native of Panama City, Panama. "Chen is the oldest player we've ever selected in the rookie draft," manager Tim Stoops stated. "While it's not the greatest pick for the long-term future of the club, we feel like he gives us a great chance to get back to the playoffs in 2011." ![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - No longer able to rely on Eric Chavez and his faulty back, the Padres selected third baseman Brent Morel with their first round Rookie Draft pick. The native of Bakersfield, CA is expected to see limited action at third in 2011, giving Felipe Lopez a day off every week or so. "We expect him to have the third base job by 2012," manager Tim Stoops said. Morel is well regarded as a high-average hitter and a slick fielder at the hot corner. He is the second third baseman the Padres have selected in the first round since Stoops took over managerial duties in 1995. San Diego selected Chavez in the 1999 first round. The video below was recorded by the Padres during a scouting trip in 2010. Morel concludes the at-bat with an RBI triple. ![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - Looking to get younger, the Padres made shortstop Edgar Renteria available and found a trade partner in the Texas Rangers. After two seasons in San Diego, Renteria moves to the American League in exchange for 27 year old catcher Taylor Teagarden (left) and a 5th round Rookie Draft pick. In 2009, Renteria was a surprise in the San Diego lineup, hitting .317 with 14 home runs and 66 RBI. Those numbers dropped to .244, 6 HR and 48 RBI in 2010. However, the shortstop saved his best at-bats for the World Series where he hit .381 in the 7 game series won by the Padres. Teagarden played in 80 games for the Rangers in 2010, hitting a disappointing .216 with 8 HR and 33 RBI. He won't be called upon often in 2011, as the Padres are set to go with John Buck and Nick Hundley behind the plate for a third straight season. ![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - The Padres have acquired relief pitcher Matt Capps (left) from the Cincinnati Reds for a 2nd round Rookie Draft pick. "The first thing I'm going to tell you to do is not to look at Capps' 2010 numbers in Cincinnati," Padres manager Tim Stoops cautioned. "We feel like those were an aberration. Plus that's a small park the Reds play in." Last season, Capps appeared in only 21 games for the Reds, throwing just over 35 innings. The Reds strength in 2010 was starting pitching, allowing manager Seth Keffas to use his bullpen sparingly. In his limited time on the mound, Capps recorded a dismal 8.66 ERA. The Padres believe that more frequent use and a move to spacious Petco Park will help improve his numbers in 2011. ![]() SAN DIEGO, CA - After spending 15 seasons roaming the outfield in Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Park, Garret Anderson (right) will have to familiarize himself with a new outfield in 2011. The Padres today sent their all-time leader in nearly every offensive category to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for third baseman Joe Crede. "Anderson has been a staple on this Padres team since I took over as manager in 1995," manager Tim Stoops said. "I'm really glad he leaves San Diego as a World Series champion. I think everyone in the clubhouse wanted to win it last month for him. You know he's been here a long time if you think back to when he used to play in the outfield next to the likes of Joe Orsulak and Rusty Greer." Crede is about as big an injury question mark as Eric Chavez at this point in his career. The two third basemen may not have spots with the 2011 Padres. In 2010, Crede was limited to 102 games with the Indians, hitting a disappointing .208 with 19 home runs and 59 RBI. |
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