The Padres have signed 32-year old lefty swinging Eric Munson to a minor league deal. Munson played in only 1 game for the A’s last season and he was 0 for 1. Munson also played in 99 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 93 for 351 (.265 avg, .812 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 13 homers and 68 RBIs. Munson has played in 361 games in his major league career and he is 226 for 1,056 (.214 avg, .683 OPS) with 97 runs scored, 49 homers and 147 RBIs. Munson will more than likely start the year in AAA and get a call from the Padres if the need arises.

25-year old switch hitting Chase Headley is a natural 3B who learned how to play the outfield because the Padres had Kevin Kouzmanoff entrenched there. With Kouzmanoff off to the A’s in a trade, Headley will return to his natural position and the Padres hope that sparks his offense. Headley played in 156 games for the Padres last season and he was 143 for 543 (.262 avg, .734 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 12 homers, 64 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Padres are hoping for at least 80 runs scored, 15 homers and 80 RBIs out of Headley in 2010. Headley played in 28 games at 3B last season and he made 5 errors there while showing pathetic range. I believe that he will improve big time with a whole spring training to work on his defense at 3B.

33-year old righty swinging Jerry Hairston will be Headley’s primary backup at 3B this season. He played in 49 games at 3B for the Reds & Yankees last season and he showed slightly below average range. This is not his best position defensively.

31-year old righty swinging Oscar Salazar will likely play a little bit at 3B, 1B and the corner outfield in 2010. His main job is to be the Padres’ top pinch hitter off the bench. He played in 72 games for the Padres & Orioles last season and he was 29 for 108 (.269 avg, .802 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 3 homers and 19 RBIs. Salazar played in 5 error-free games at 3B last season while showing poor range there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2010: C-

23-year old switch hitting shortstop Everth Cabrera will look to build on his solid rookie season in 2010. Cabrera played in 103 games for the Padres last season and he was 96 for 377 (.255 avg, .703 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 2 homers, 31 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Cabrera was a heck of a Rule 5 Draft Pick last season by the Padres. If he can hit .270 to .280 be could challenge for the league lead in stolen bases. Cabrera needs to improve a little bit in the field however as he made 23 errors in 102 games at SS last season while showing above average range.

33-year old righty swinging Jerry Hairston will backup Cabrera at SS in 2010. He played in 42 games for the Reds & Yankees last season and he made 2 errors while showing pretty good range. Hairston is a good player so the Padres won’t suffer much of a dropoff with him in the lineup at SS when he plays there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2010: C

The Padres have signed 27-year old righty swinging 2B Josh Barfield to a minor league deal. Barfield played in 17 games for the Indians last season and he was 8 for 20 (.400 avg, .850 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He also played in 73 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 77 for 305 (.252 avg, .602 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 3 homers, 35 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Barfield has now played in 309 games in his major league career and he is 267 for 1,012 (.264 avg, .671 OPS) with 133 runs scored, 16 homers, 112 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. The Padres are hoping that a return to San Diego where Barfield played his best baseball will revive his career.

The Padres have signed 29-year old righty reliever Scott Munter to a minor league deal. Munter pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 4-6 with 1 save, a 4.88 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Munter last pitched in the majors in 2007 with the Giants. Munter has now pitched in 84 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 3-2 with a 4.75 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Munter will get a chance this spring to make the Padres’ pitching staff.