Things are not looking good for the Padres as they are likely in a full blown rebuilding project. They are trying to trade Jake Peavy and Khalil Greene to save some cash but they won’t be spending it in free agency. They need a catcher to compete with Nick Hundley for the starting job and they could possibly sign Paul LoDuca, Gregg Zaun, David Ross, Eliezer Alfonzo, Javier Valentin or Paul Bako. The Padres will be looking for cheap middle infield help and they could look at David Eckstein, Jose Castillo, Craig Counsell, Omar Vizquel, Ramon Vazquez, Cesar Izturis, Nick Punto, Alex Cora, Alex Cintron and Adam Everett. The Padres will also be on the hunt for a cheap, veteran outfielder for the bench. Scott Podsednik, Jason Michaels, Shannon Stewart, Cory Sullivan, Chris Duffy and Brad Wilkerson will likely be considered. It will be on manager Bud Black to coach up a pitching staff that likely won’t look too good on paper. Jon Lieber, Josh Fogg, Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez, Carl Pavano and Sidney Ponson will get looks from the right side. Rehabbing Kip Wells, Jason Jennings and Bartolo Colon could all get shots to try to make the Padres’ pitching staff. Kenny Rogers, Odalis Perez and Mark Hendrickson would likely be interested in pitching have of there games next season in Petco Park. The Padres might be able to convince Chad Cordero or Jason Isringhausen to come out to San Diego on a cheap deal to get some save opportunities. Juan Rincon, Tyler Walker and Doug Waechter have the kind of skills that Bud Black can get a lot out of. The Padres also need a lefty for the bullpen with Trever Miller, Ron Villone, John Parrish, Ray King, Kent Mercker, Ricardo Rincon and Jake Woods being possible targets. It’s going to be a long season in San Diego in 2009.

The Padres have picked up the 2009 option on 37-year old lefty hitting outfielder Brian Giles worth $9 million bucks. He played in 147 games for the Padres last season and he was 171 for 559 (.306 avg, .854 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 12 homers and 63 RBIs. Giles has played in parts of six seasons with the Padres covering 772 games in which he is 829 for 2,904 (.285 avg) with 452 runs scored, 81 homers and 392 RBIs. It was smart to keep Giles around as he’s a fan favorite and he’s still a good baseball player. He will be a fine roll model for the younger players the Padres will run out in 2009 which will likely be a rebuilding season.