There's a few Padres players who will have a serious rooting interest in today's Super Bowl.

One of them is Padres reliever Joe Thatcher, a native of Kokomo, which is about one hour outside Indianapolis.

Or, close enough for Thatcher to take the plunge and buy season tickets to the Colts this season.

Because of workouts and other obligations, Thatcher figures he made it to about five games this season. He won't be in Miami but will be at his parents house with a large group rooting for the Colts.

On deciding not to go to Super Bowl:

"It's the last weekend at home before Spring Training and I didn't feel like traveling. I wanted to relax one last weekend."

Where he'll watch the game Sunday:

"We're having a big Super Bowl party at my parents house (in Kokomo), we'll have about 30 or 40 people at the house, all Colts' fans," Thatcher said. "It's a smaller town and all everyone is talking about is the Colts."

Do the Colts have a chance?:

 "Anytime you've got Peyton Manning, you've got to like their chances," Thatcher said. "He's awfully fun to watch. He's the face of Indiana. And I think their defense has been really good all year. You don't win 14 games in a row if you're defense isn't good."

Corey Brock, MLB.com

Here's a story I wrote this morning. The deal is pending a physical and could be complete by the end of the day.

What are your thoughts on Torrealba as a backup catcher to Nick Hundley? To me, much like the Jon Garland signing, it's the Padres taking advantage of two free agent who miscalculated the market.

Are you happy with Torrealba? Is he, in your mind, the final piece to the roster?

Corey Brock, MLB.com Twitter: @FollowThePadres


SAN DIEGO - The Padres' roster construction continues as Spring Training approaches.

The newest addition is free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who on Friday agreed to a one-year worth $1.25 million guaranteed with a mutual option worth $3.5 million for 2011, a source said.

The deal isn't yet official and is pending a physical.

The Padres were hopeful that they could sign a veteran catcher to spell Nick Hundley on occasion. They acquired Dusty Ryan from Detroit in December and were prepared to go to Spring Training with him as the backup.

But in Torrealba, they get a veteran who has appeared in 574 Major League games over a nine-year career and someone who knows the National League West Division well.

Torrealba, 31, is a career .255 hitter who hit .291 in 64 games last season with Colorado. He also led the team with a .488 average with runners in scoring position.

Torrealba, who spent the last four seasons with the Rockies, has also played for Seattle (2005) and San Francisco (2001-05) in his career.

Torrealba's best season came in 2007 when he hit .255 with a career-high 101 hits, eight home runs and 47 RBIs for the Rockies.

Torrealba rejected a two-year, $5.6 million offer from the Rockies earlier this offseason, wanting a two-year deal between $6 million and $6.5 million. The two sides apparently disagreed over the option and buyout structure of the deal.

The Rockies declined to pick up a $4 million option on his 2010 contract, which made him a free agent.

San Diego general manager Jed Hoyer has had a busy few weeks.

Last month he acquired outfielders Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham from Oakland, signed two free agents (utilityman Jerry Hariston Jr. and starting pitcher Jon Garland) and signed Matt Stairs to a Minor League contract.
 

I know. Taking a stab at the 25-man roster on Feb. 2 doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it?

Look at what happened last spring, when the Padres went through a flurry of moves to get their roster ready for Opening Day. It's a fair point, but I think the roster will be a little more settled in 2010 and fewer spots will be open for competition.

That said, there's always a chance a sleeper (or two) could make a run at the 25-man Opening Day roster with a strong spring. I don't think anyone thought late-comer Luke Gregerson would have had a shot when he arrived last March. Edwin Moreno, anyone?

The point is that six weeks in Arizona is enough time for someone to make a good impression (or a bad one, too).

Here's a link to the current 40-man roster. Take a look and let me know if, for you, there are any sleepers on there who could reasonably make a run at the Opening Day roster. Also, what are going to be the top position battles (that includes rotation and bullpen)?

Who is on the bubble for you? Sean Gallagher and Tim Stauffer are two pitchers who are out of Minor League options, for example. If they don't make the roster, you risk losing them. I know the Padres haven't seen enough of Gallagher to let that happen. Look for him to pitch a lot in Spring Training.

Anyway, have at it.

Heck, I'll even go first. I'm intrigued by pitcher Radhames Liz, who the Padres claimed off of waivers from the Orioles. Big arm, lacks control. With six weeks during the tutelage of pitching coach Darren Balsley ... well, who knows?

Corey Brock, MLB.com and on Twitter: @FollowThePadres

Here's my story from earlier today on Padres.com about the newest Padre: pitcher Jon Garland, who, pending a physical, has agreed to terms with the team.

We'll have more details later at Padres.com and Twitter @FollowThePadres on the Garland deal.

SAN DIEGO - The Padres made a move Tuesday to bolster their starting rotation by signing right-handed pitcher Jon Garland to a one-year contract.

A source confirmed Tuesday that the Padres had reached a deal with Garland. Terms were not immediately known.

Garland, 30, went 11-13 last season with a 4.01 ERA between six starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers and 27 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Garland has a career record of 117-102 with a 4.42 ERA over a 10-year career in the Major Leagues.

Garland spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Chicago White Sox. He won 18 games in 2005 and again in 2006. He made the American League All-Star team in 2005.

Garland essentially completes a starting rotation that includes Chris Young, Mat Latos, Kevin Correia and Clayton Richard.

Garland said earlier this month that he would prefer to remain on the West Coast this season.

The Dodgers declined their $10 million mutual option for 2010 on Garland. He earned $2.5 million from the Diamondbacks as a buyout as part of the terms of the trade made Sept. 1 between the two teams.

Garland was 3-2 with a 2.72 ERA for the Dodgers in six starts. He didn't pitch in the NLDS and was left off the roster for the NLCS.

Garland has thrown at least 191 2/3 innings in every season since 2002.

So how do you feel about the move?

Corey Brock, MLB.com 

This just in ...and remember, your one stop for Padres news is Padres.com and Twitter @FollowThePadres.

The Padres have reached an agreement with utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. on a one-year deal worth $2.125 on Monday.

He will be the second member of the Hairston acquired by the team in three days.

On Saturday, the Padres re-acquired Scott Hairston from the A's for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. Scott Hairston played parts of three seasons (2007-09) with the Padres before he was traded to the A's in July.

Jerry Hairston, who is 33 and four years older than his brother, has been a free-agent target of the Padres all winter.

In fact, the Padres were talking to him and the agent whom he and his brother share, Casey Close, about a deal to be the right-handed outfield bat that they needed.

Instead, the Padres traded for Scott Hairston.

San Diego general manager Jed Hoyer said on Saturday that the team now has its sights set on finding a veteran pitcher, but indicated that the team is still looking for depth for the middle infield.

Jerry Hairston played third base, shortstop, second base and the outfield last season with the Reds and Yankees.

Jerry Hairston, a career .271 hitter in the National League (compared with .253 in the American League), would likely back up Chase Headley at third base, Everth Cabrera at shortstop and second baseman David Eckstein.

Jerry Hairston, who has been in the big leagues since 1998, has never played with his brother. The two were teammates last spring for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Corey Brock, MLB.com,

The deal that we talked about on Friday was made official on Saturday: Kevin Kouzmanoff and Eric Sogard to the A's for Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham.

I had the opportunity to talk with Kouzmanoff on Saturday night and he was very thankful of the chance he got to prove himself as Major League player in San Diego.

The tone of my story on Saturday focused more on what the move means for the Padres and if this kind of move is something we might see more from new general manager Jed Hoyer.

Hoyer told me in November that finding an offensive player who can succeed at spacious and very pitcher-friendly PETCO Park was important to him. Now Scott Hairston might not be the perfect guy for the job, but his skill set and his offensive numbers at this ballpark are worth noting.

Have a look at the chart in my story regarding the most home runs hit at PETCO Park since 2007. Look at Hairston's line. Look at Adrian Gonzalez's line. Sure, Gonzalez has a greater sample size, but it shows there are right-handed players who can hit the ball out of PETCO Park and can succeed here.

"It's going to be an organizational priority to build a Padres team that fits PETCO Park and can maximize the advantages that it can offer," Hoyer said in November. "There's a blueprint for success here based on the size of the ballpark.

"It's speed, pitching and defense. There's a player who can be successful at PETCO and can benefit from the ballpark."

I realize fans became attached to Kouzmanoff during his time here. Honestly, as he said on Saturday, he felt the same way about the fans.

But for a team looking to get better, that was looking for a right-handed outfielder, someone who could play center field, someone who is a good defender and won't have the dramatic home-road splits others do, they made what looks to me as a very good baseball deal.

What are your thoughts?

Corey Brock, MLB.com @FollowThePadres

So you've been waiting and waiting for the Padres to make a big splash -- or even a minor ripple -- this off-season, right?

Well, this is it.

On Friday, the Padres and Oakland A's swung a deal; the Padres will send third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and Minor League second baseman Eric Sogard to the A's for outfielders Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham.

Here's my story from Friday night with details. It's important to note the deal isn't official yet. The players involved will be physicals first. Kouzmanoff is headed to Oakland today, Saturday, and I expect Hairston will head to San Diego to do the same very soon.

The Padres have been looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder and have found it in a player they had for parts of three seasons and one they traded to the A's in July. This says to me the Padres either didn't like what was left on the free agent market or didn't like the cost.

Parting with Kouzmanoff is going to be tough for Padres fans. He's clearly been a fan favorite here and has improved immensely defensively in each of his three seasons here. There was a thought internally that he had reached his ceiling offensively (which, I should add, was still pretty good).

Now Chase Headley can slide back to his natural position at third base, leaving left field, presumably, in the large hands of Kyle Blanks.

Hairston was ecstatic about the deal. He never wanted to go in the first place. Here's my story from last night talking about Hairston's return and what it means for Headley.

I'm sure we'll hear more on the trade today or Sunday.  For the latest updates, check Padres.com and Twitter at @FollowThePadres.

Corey Brock

I know.

You're wondering when the Padres are going to make a significant addition to their roster this winter.

I have a feeling the next few weeks will be interesting, especially with Spring Training five or so weeks away.

There's still a bunch of interesting free agents out there, players who will likely see their asking price drop the closer we get to Spring Training.

Remember Bobby Abreu last year? He signed a deal with the Angels on Feb. 11 and it was an undervalued deal at that.

That's not to say the Padres are going to make a big splash with a free agent signing. They won't, not with a payroll in the $40 million range. But they could sign one or two players -- I'm guessing you'll see a veteran catcher first then the right-handed hitting center fielder -- who can help them in 2010.

I've detailed a few of these names in my story on MLB.com and Padres.com today. Have a peek. I think Jerry Hairston Jr., the older brother of former Padre Scott Hairston, could make for an interesting fit. He could be the right-handed center fielder (Tony Gwynn plays against right-handed pitchers) and also spell Everth Cabrera and David Eckstein at times.

Who would you like to see the Padres sign?

Remember, for all of the latest breaking news on the San Diego Padres, check Padres.com and @FollowThePadres on Twitter.

Corey Brock, MLB.com

Happy Friday, good to be back in San Diego after some chilly weather at the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. I hope that everyone followed the action on Padres.com and on my Twitter account: @FollowthePadres, where we were the only one providing updates on what the Padres were doing -- and weren't doing.

Keep checking back this winter on Twitter for your source for Padres news.

A word of caution about the off-season: Don't read too much into the Padres lack of activity in the way of making trades or signing free agents. The Winter Meetings are nothing more than a matter of convenience, for teams to meet with other teams in person and with agents.

I know the Padres and new general manager Jed Hoyer were very busy. Understand that there is a process here. Teams meet, teams talk, some talks go places, some don't, some will get revisited and some will proceed slowly.

In other words, the Winter Meetings are over for the Padres, but the off-season for them is really just beginning.

A few things to keep an eye on: The Padres have until 8:59 p.m. PT to tender contracts to their four arbitration-eligible players: pitchers Kevin Correia, Mike Adams, Heath Bell and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff.

The Correia situation will be interesting to watch. They can either trade him or sign him to a deal before Saturday's deadline. I have to think they get something worked out.

As for Kouzmanoff, his name was a hot one at the Winter Meetings. A lot of teams need a third baseman and many of them aren't interested in paying Placido Polanco money (three years, $18 million). Maybe the Padres move Kouzmanoff to get a starting pitcher or the right-handed hitting outfielder they're looking for.

Stay tuned.

-- Corey Brock, MLB.com

Happy Sunday, just getting ready to get on a plane to the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, where baseball executives, agents and assorted media gather for four days.

You never know what to expect from the Winter Meetings, though I don't see the Padres being active (at least not yet) with free agents, but new general manager Jed Hoyer will meet with a handful of agents and a lot of teams.

If the Padres do anything -- and remember, checking Padres.com and @FollowThePadres on Twitter, is your best source of information -- it will be in the way of a trade. That doesn't mean Adrian Gonzalez. I don't think he's going anywhere.

We'll see what happens. And remember, the Rule 5 draft is on Thursday morning. The Padres have been active in the Rule 5 draft (unprotected players from other 40-man rosters) over the last few years and scored big a year ago when they stole shortstop Everth Cabrera from the Rockies.

Until Monday, here's a few links to go over to get you ready for the Winter Meetings and what Hoyer and the Padres might be thinking moving forward.

-- Corey Brock, Padres.com, @FollowThePadres