Will the Padres offer the right-hander, who turns 41 on Oct. 13, a new contract? And at what price? And will Hoffman choose to return to the Padres at any price if they don't make a commitment to improve before 2009? Save opportunities with these Padres have been few and far between.

Hoffman becomes a free agent at the end of this season. He will make $7.5 million this season.

Hoffman is in his 16th season with the Padres, and all but two of his major league-record 551 career saves have been with San Diego.

But Hoffman has only 27 saves this season -- the most recent of which came Wednesday afternoon as he struck out all three Diamondbacks he faced. Although his ERA of 4.13 is the highest it has ever been over a full season with the Padres and his won-loss record is 2-6, Hoffman has converted 90 percent of his save opportunities -- which is just above his career average.

Hoffman has converted 16 consecutive save opportunities, but he has had only 10 opportunities since the All-Star break as the Padres head toward a 100-loss season.