The San Diego Padres traded four players for 31-year old righty swinging Jason Bartlett over the winter. Bartlett will try to give the Padres stability in the field and a good bat at SS in 2011. Bartlett played in 135 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last season and he was 119 of 468 (.254 avg, .675 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 4 homers, 47 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Bartlett will likely rebound with the bat in 2011 as he is a career .281 hitter with a .731 OPS in his first 7 years in the majors. Bartlett made 11 errors in 131 games at SS for the Rays last season but he showed pathetic range. I think a move to a grass field will help him a bit with his range as Tropicana Field played fast last year.

24-year old switch hitting Everth Cabrera might have a hard time making the team this spring. He really regressed after a strong rookie showing in 2009. Cabrera played in 76 games for the Padres last season and he was 44 of 212 (.208 avg, .557 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 1 homer, 22 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Padres really hope that Cabrera can get back on the right track offensively because he has a lot of speed. Cabrera had 7 errors in 61 games at SS for the Padres last season and he showed poor range. It seems like he took his hitting problems into the field last year. He might need to spend some time in the minors to get his confidence back.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PADRES SHORTSTOPS IN 2011: B-

33-year old switch hitting Orlando Hudson is taking over at 2B for the Padres in 2011. 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. The Padres need Hudson to stay healthy in 2011 as he has been brittle in the past. Hudson played in 123 games at 2B for the Twins last season and he made 8 errors while showing out of this world range. Hudson will give the Padres Gold Glove caliber defense at 2B while giving them a pesky hitter near the top of the batting order.

27-year old Eric Patterson came over in the Adrian Gonzalez deal from the Red Sox. He will back up Hudson as well as playing some outfield in 2011. 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. He whiffs too much (62 times last season) to take full advantage of his speed. Patterson played in 14 games at 2B last season and he made 1 error while showing excellent range. Patterson will likely have a nice role on the Padres’ bench in 2011.

28-year old righty swinging Kevin Frandsen and 27-year old righty swinging Jarrett Hoffpauir can also handle 2B if called upon. Frandsen played in 4 games at 2B for the Angels last season and he made 1 error there while showing terrible range. Hoffpauir played in 2 error-free games at 2B for the Blue Jays last season while showing excellent range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PADRES 2B IN 2011: B

The San Diego Padres have signed 34-year old righty reliever Geoff Geary to a minor league deal. Geary pitched in 31 games (6 starts) in AAA-ball for the Dodgers & Rangers and he was 4-6 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Geary was very, very hittable in the minors last season as he gave up a stunning 96 hits in only 69 1/3 innings! Geary last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Houston Astros. Geary has pitched in 287 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 16-10 with 1 save, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. This was a good signing for the Padres as Geary is the kind of pitcher that they get something out of.

The San Diego Padres have signed 35-year old lefty reliever Randy Flores to a minor league deal. Flores pitched in 58 games (0 starts) for the Rockies & Brewers last year and he was 2-0 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 350 games (3 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 11-5 with 4 saves, a 4.61 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Flores will have a decent shot of winning a job as a lefty specialist in the Padres’ pen in 2011.

Gone is Adrian Gonzalez (off to the Red Sox). He will be likely replaced by a platoon involving 31-year old lefty swinging Brad Hawpe and 29-year old righty swinging Jorge Cantu. Hawpe played in 103 games for the Rockies & Rays last season and he was 73 of 298 (.245 avg, .758 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 9 homers, 44 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Padres hope that Hawpe’s power comes back in 2011. From 2006-2009, Hawpe averaged 74.5 runs scored, 24.8 homers and 92.8 RBIs per year. But, playing half your games at Petco Park is a lot harder on a hitter than playing half of them at Coors Field like Hawpe has. Hawpe played in only 3 games at 1B last season but he didn’t make any errors. He could develop into an average defensive 1B but it’s going to take a lot of work.

Jorge Cantu played in 127 games for the Marlins & Rangers last season and he was 121 of 472 (.256 avg, .695 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 11 homers and 56 RBIs. The Padres also hope that Cantu’s power swing returns in 2011. In 2005, 2009 and 2010, Cantu averaged 77.3 runs scored, 24.3 homers and 104.0 RBIs per year. Cantu didn’t make any errors in 63 games at 1B in 2011.

24-year old righty swinging Kyle Blanks is likely the 1B of the future for the Padres. He had a serious injury last season and he will be rehabbing at least half of 2011. He played in 33 games for the Padres last season and he was 16 of 102 (.157 avg, .607 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 3 homers, 15 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Padres hope that good health will get Blanks back to his 2009 level. He played in 54 games as a rookie in 2009 and he was 37 of 148 (.250 avg, .868 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 10 homers, 22 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Blanks didn’t make any errors in 4 games at 1B in 2010. Blanks’ natural position is 1B so he will be comfortable there, he was only playing the outfield because Adrian Gonzalez was entrenched at 1B.

26-year old righty swinging Jesus Guzman will challenge Jorge Cantu this spring for the right to platoon with Brad Hawpe at 1B in 2011. Guzman played in 125 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 143 of 445 (.321 avg, .886 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 18 homers, 72 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Guzman’s only major league experience came in 2009 with the Giants. He played in 12 games in 2009 for the Giants and he was 5 of 20 (.250 avg, .500 OPS).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PADRES 1B IN 2011: C-