--Although they have reached an agreement with Ryan Dempster, the Chicago Cubs still remain the Padres' best trading partner for RHP Jake Peavy. Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he hadn't heard from the Braves since Atlanta formally withdrew from the Peavy bidding Nov. 11. And although both the Yankees and Angels were said to be interested in Peavy, the 2007 Cy Young winner has told the Padres he prefers to remain in the National League -- and he can veto any trade.
--RHP Trevor Hoffman and the Padres hadn't talked since the Padres withdrew their $4 million, one-year contract offer Nov. 11. Yet Padres CEO Sandy Alderson said he is hopeful the Padres can re-sign Hoffman although the all-time saves leader said the "door is closed." --Will 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff's unexpected shoulder surgery open the door for prospect Chase Headley to take over at third? The Padres are optimistic that Kouzmanoff, whose surgery was described as a "cleanup procedure," will be ready for the start of spring training.
--The Padres have added six minor-leaguers to their 40-man roster so that they won't have to be subjected to the Rule 5 draft. The six are RHP Matt Bush, RHP Cesar Carrillo, LHP Cesar Ramos, RHP Jackson Quezada, C Jose Lobaton and OF Luis Durango.
Bush and Carrillo are both former first-round picks who are coming back from elbow reconstruction surgery. Bush, 22, was the first overall pick of the 2004 draft as a shortstop, and he suffered ligament damage to his elbow shortly after being converted to a pitcher in 2007. Carrillo, 24, was 3-5 with a 5.97 ERA with Class A Lake Elsinore last year in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.
"We just don't want to take the risk of losing them," Towers said. "They are two guys we've invested a great deal in. I'd rather err on the side of caution. Carrillo is actually throwing fairly well, his velocity is starting to come back. And before Bush was hurt, he was throwing in the high 90s."
--OF Paul McAnulty signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox as a free agent. McAnulty, 27, hit .208 with five homers in 212 at-bats over parts of four seasons with the Padres. He hit .207 last year and also struggled in left field and on the basepaths. But in five minor league seasons with the Padres, McAnulty hit better than .300 with an on-base percentage of around .400.
BY THE NUMBERS: 37 -- Players on the Padres' 40-man roster after the addition of six minor-leaguers who would have been eligible for the Rule 5 draft.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I am extremely saddened by the situation. Trevor has been a great teammate, mentor and leader to me and the rest of the team. I'm still hopeful something can be worked out. I cannot imagine the Padres without him." -- RHP Chris Young, on the impasse between the team and all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman.
