The Padres have signed 35-year old righty Brett Tomko to a contract for the rest of the 2008 season. Tomko pitched in 16 games (10 starts) for the Royals earlier this season and he was 2-7 with a 6.97 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Tomko will work in long relief initially for the Padres but he might work his way into the starting rotation later in the year. He has now pitched in 363 games (260 starts) in his major league career and he is 95-99 with 2 saves, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. This was a nice low risk signing for the Padres as Tomko might be able to give them some quality innings.

It’s really bad luck that 31-year old lefty swinging Brian Myrow plays in the Padres’ system and that he plays 1B. If Myrow played any other position he might have already got a chance with the Padres because of their lack of offense this season. He has played in 67 games in AAA ball for the Padres and he is 81 for 231 (.351 avg, 1.045 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 10 homers and 55 RBIs. He also has a great eye at the plate having walked 55 times already this season. If nothing else the Padres should call up Myrow in September when rosters expand as long as he continues to play well.

Trevor Hoffman was looking like he was toast in April but he has pitched better the last couple of months. In 15 games in May & June, Hoffman is 1-2 with 10 saves, a 3.14 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He also has whiffed 19 batters while only walking 2 in 14.1 innings the last two months. For the season, Hoffman has now pitched in 25 games for the Padres this season and he is 1-4 with 15 saves, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Hoffman has also whiffed 28 batters in 24 innings so he is still tricking some hitters. The Padres need Hoffman to be on his game as the Padres play a lot of close, low scoring games where one bad pitch can lose a game.

The Padres have designated lefty pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma for assignment after he failed in his audition in the starting rotation. Ledezma pitched in 14 games (6 starts) for the Padres this season and he was 0-2 with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. He walked an amazing 30 batters in only 44.2 innings and manager Bud Black just won’t tolerate that sort of control. In his six starts, Ledezma was 0-2 with a 6.57 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Chances are that Ledezma will have little problem finding a new job in the majors as he throws hard and he is left handed.

The Padres have lost 2B Tadahito Iguchi for at least the next 4 weeks with a separated right shoulder. Iguchi has played in 59 games for the Padres this season and he is 62 for 239 (.259 avg, .667 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 2 homers, 20 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The Padres will likely call up a 2B from the minors to share the position with Edgar Gonzalez. Gonzalez has played in 19 games for the Padres this season and he is 10 for 35 (.286 avg, .702 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs. This will hurt the poor Padres who have endured a ton of injuries this season.