The Padres have signed 26-year old righty reliever Chris Britton to a 1-year deal. He pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Yankees last season and he was 0-0 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Britton has now pitched in 78 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-3 with 1 save, a 3.83 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. This was a good signing for the Padres as Britton has the ability to work late in games. He might even be one of the set-up men for Heath Bell this season.

The Padres decided not to tender contracts to 30-year old righty Clay Hensley and 25-year old righty Charlie Haeger. Hensley pitched in 32 games (1 start) for the Padres last season and he was 1-2 with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Hensley has now pitched in 106 games (40 starts) in his career with the Padres and he was 15-18 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger was also let go after he was pathetic for the Padres last year. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Padres last season and he was 0-0 with a 16.62 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. He has now pitched in 19 games (1 start) in his major league career and he is 1-2 with 1 save, a 6.35 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP. He won’t be missed at all in 2009.

The San Diego Padres selected 21-year old righty starting pitcher Ivan Novoa and 22-year old switch hitting shortstop Everth Cabrera in the Rule 5 Draft. Novoa was the Yankees’ #18 rated prospect heading into the 2008 season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 26 games (24 starts) in A-ball last season and he was 8-13 with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Don’t let those numbers fool you as Novoa has great stuff. It would be no surprise to see him make the opening day pitching staff in 2009 for the Padres. The Padres have an opening at shortstop in 2009 so it will be interesting to see how well Everth Cabrera does in spring training. Cabrera played in 121 games in A-ball last season and he was 136 for 479 (.284 avg, .760 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 6 homers, 38 RBIs and 73 stolen bases. The Padres likely did very well in the Rule 5 Draft this season.

The Padres were pretty much willing to give Khalil Greene away after how he acted off the field last season and they found a taker in the Cardinals. Greene played in 105 games for the Padres last season and he was 83 for 389 (.213 avg, .599 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 10 homers and 35 RBIs. Greene finishes his career in San Diego having played in 659 games in which he was 594 for 2,397 (.248 avg, .731 OPS) with 301 runs scored, 84 homers and 328 RBIs. The Padres have received 25-year old righty reliever Mark Worrell and a player to be named later for Greene. Mark Worrell pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals last season and he was 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP. Worrell was very effective in AAA ball which no doubt caught the Padres’ eyes. He pitched in 53 games (0 starts) in AAA ball last season and he was 3-2 with 5 saves, a 2.15 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. This was likely a good trade for both teams.

Justin Germano has left the Padres for a chance to join the starting rotation of the Softbank Hawks of the Japanese Major Leagues. Germano certainly didn’t leave for the money as he will only make $500,000 next season. Germano pitched in 12 games (6 starts) for the Padres last season and he was 0-3 with a 5.98 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. In three seasons with the Padres, Germano pitched in 45 games (34 starts) in which he was 8-15 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. The Padres won’t likely miss Germano in 2009 and it’s a good opportunity to establish himself as a possible legit major leaguer as he might only pitch one season in Japan.