The Rockies have signed 31-year old lefty swinging OF/1B Brad Hawpe to a 1-year deal. Hawpe played in 103 games last season for the Rockies & Rays and he was 73 of 298 (.245 avg, .758 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 9 homers, 44 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 831 games in his first seven years in the majors and he is 756 of 2,712 (.279 avg, .862 OPS) with 379 runs scored, 120 homers, 471 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Hawpe will get the bulk of the P.T. at 1B even if he winds up in a platoon situation. I’m sure the price was right to sign Hawpe but I think the Padres should have went hard after Derek Lee, Adam LaRoche or Russell Branyan instead.

The San Diego Padres have acquired 27-year old righty swinging catcher Rob Johnson from the Mariners for a player to be named later. Johnson played in 61 games for the Mariners last season and he was 34 of 178 (.191 avg, .574 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 2 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 161 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 94 of 470 (.200 avg, .584 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 5 homers, 42 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Johnson will backup Nick Hundley next season for the Padres. Johnson is a really good defensive catcher but he can’t hit a lick.

The Padres have signed 33-year old switch hitting 2B Orlando Hudson to a 2-year, $11.5 million dollar deal. Hudson played in 126 games for the Twins last season and he was 133 of 497 (.268 avg, .710 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 6 homers, 37 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,140 games in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 1,168 of 4,167 (.280 avg, .770 OPS) with 573 runs scored, 83 homers, 471 RBIs and 60 stolen bases. Hudson has been to the All-Star Game twice so far in his career and he has won four Gold Gloves. I really like this signing for the Padres as Hudson will give the team an offensive and defensive upgrade at 2B.

The Padres have acquired 27-year old lefty swinging 2B/OF Eric Patterson from the Red Sox as the player to be named later in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. Patterson played in 90 games for the A’s & Red Sox last season and he was 40 of 187 (.214 avg, .679 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 6 homers, 16 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Patterson has now played in 179 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 94 of 419 (.224 avg, .652 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 8 homers, 42 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Patterson speed and versatility in the field could be assets for the Padres, but, you can’t steal 1B.

The Padres have signed 26-year old righty swinging infielder Gregorio Petit to a minor league deal. Petit played in 130 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 118 of 471 (.251 avg, .658 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 7 homers, 53 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He last played in the majors in 2009 with the A’s. Petit has now played in 25 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 15 of 54 (.278 avg, .637 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 1 RBI. Petit will get a shot next spring to win a job on the Padres’ bench.

UPDATE: (2/16/2011) - The Padres have released Gregorio Petit.