The A’s have claimed 23-year old lefty swinging outfielder Cedric Hunter and 26-year old righty reliever Evan Scribner on waivers from the Padres. Hunter played in six games last year in his first taste of the majors for the Padres and he was 1 for 4 (.250 avg, .650 OPS) with 1 run scored. He also played in 81 games in AAA-ball for the Padres last year and he was 72 for 282 (.255 avg, .680 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 2 homers, 33 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Evan Scribner pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Padres last year (also his first taste of the majors) and he was 0-0 with a 7.07 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He also pitched in 28 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 2-3 with 10 saves, a 4.71 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The Padres likely won’t miss Hunter and Scribner too much in the future.

28-year old righty swinging catcher Rob Johnson has elected to become a free agent. Johnson played in 67 games for the Padres last year and he was 34 for 179 (.190 avg, .544 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers, 16 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 228 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 128 for 649 (.197 avg, .573 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 8 homers, 58 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The Padres should have no problem replacing Johnson in the off-season.

31-year old righty reliever Jeff Fulchino has elected free agency over a return to the Padres in 2011. Fulchino pitched in 3 games (0 starts) for the Padres last year and he was 0-0 with a 16.20 ERA and a 4.20 WHIP. He pitched in 39 games (0 starts) combined for the Astros & Padres last year and he was 1-4 with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Fulchino has pitched in 163 games (0 starts) so far in his major league career now and he is 9-10 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The Padres won’t miss Fulchino at all moving forward.

The San Diego Padres have four potential free agents heading into the winter. Here is a look at who is likely staying and leaving out of this bunch:

Brad Hawpe: 32-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Brad Hawpe played in 62 games for the Padres in 2011 and he was 45 for 195 (.231 avg, .645 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 4 homers and 19 RBIs. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Aaron Harang: 33-year old righty starting pitcher Aaron Harang pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Padres in 2011 and he was 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. The Padres have a $5 million dollar club option on Harang for the 2012 season with a $500,000 buyout. PREDICTION: STAYING

Heath Bell: 34-year old righty closer Heath Bell pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Padres in 2011 and he was 3-4 with 43 saves, a 2.44 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. I have a hunch that he’s sticking around. PREDICTION: STAYING

Chad Qualls: 33-year old righty reliever Chad Qualls pitched in 77 games (0 starts) for the Padres in 2011 and he was 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. The Padres have a $6 million dollar option on Qualls for 2012 with a $1.5 million dollar buyout. PREDICTION: LEAVING

As soon as the Padres dealt Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox, they figured 2011 would be a rebuilding year. They were right as they just couldn’t hit the ball. The Padres finished in last place in the N.L. West with a 71-91 record, 23 games behind the Diamondbacks. Here is a look at what stood out to me about the Padres in 2011:

TEAM MVP & BEST PITCHER: 34-year old righty closer Heath Bell was more important to the Padres than most closers’ were to their teams, due to the fact that they had a ton of close games in 2011. Bell pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Padres last year and he was 3-4 with 43 saves, a 2.44 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He only gave up 51 hits in 62 2/3 innings while whiffing 51 batters, so he wasn’t dominating….but still really good.

PLEASANT SURPRISE: 27-year old righty swinging 1B Jesus Guzman really swung the bat well for the Padres in 2011. He played in 76 games for the Padres last year and he was 77 for 247 (.312 avg, .847 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers, 44 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Guzman will likely get to battle for the starting 1B job for the Padres this spring as he is now likely in the majors to stay.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: 22-year old lefty swinging 1B Anthony Rizzo was the key to the Adrian Gonzalez deal with the Red Sox. He played excellent in AAA-ball this year as he worked in 93 games in which he was 118 of 356 (.331 avg, 1.056 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 26 homers, 101 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Padres then called him up and he was overmatched by major league pitching. Rizzo played in 49 games for the Padres in 2011 and he was 18 for 128 (.141 avg, .523 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer, 9 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He did walk 21 times for the Padres, but he also whiffed 46 times which negated his “good eye”.