The signing of Mexican League right-hander Walter Silva gives the Padres 34 pitchers in camp, creating some problems.
Even with an extended spring training due to the World Baseball Classic, the Padres are going to be strained to give everyone a look. In the club's first exhibition game, 10 pitchers worked one inning apiece. Ten pitchers were again used in the second game. Eight pitchers worked an inning apiece in the third. Due to the number of pitchers and the earlier starting date, pitching coach Darren Balsley has lowered the pitch counts for his starters early in spring training.
"They're throwing 15 to 20 pitches in their first outing rather than the 30 to 35 pitches we saw in previous springs," Balsley said.
The pitcher count has also created additional work for the training staff, which arrives at the Padres' Peoria, Ariz., camp at 6:30 a.m. to start treating up to 20 pitchers a day.
The most recent addition is one of the most interesting. Signed on the recommendation of brothers Adrian and Edgar Gonzalez, the 32-year-old Silva was 7-8 last season with a 4.21 ERA in the Mexican League.
The Padres are looking for starters beyond right-handers Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Cha Seung Baek. Silva joins a list of candidates that includes former Giant Kevin Correia, Jae Kuk Ryu, the injured Mark Prior and homegrown prospects Josh Geer and Wade LeBlanc.
There are more candidates, but those are the front-runners for the final three spots.
Padres manager Bud Black saw Silva pitch for Mexico in February's Caribbean Series.
"I saw a fastball that was at 90," Black told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I saw a nice slider, a curve and a changeup. He's a good competitor. We're going to look at Silva as a starter and see where he fits. He adds some depth to our situation."
If Silva doesn't make the Padres or the Class AAA Portland roster to start the season, he will be returned to Monterrey of the Mexican League.
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