--OF Emil Brown, a well-traveled eight-year major league veteran, signed a minor league deal with the Padres and was invited to San Diego's big-league spring camp. Brown hit .244 in 117 games for Oakland last year.
--The Padres officially ended one of the more controversial -- plus embarrassing -- chapters in franchise history on Feb. 10 when they traded Matt Bush, the first overall pick in the 2004 draft, to Toronto for a player to be named or cash considerations. Bush, a product of San Diego's Mission Bay High, was drafted by the Padres over such players as Stephen Drew, Jered Weaver and Justin Verlander over questions of "signability." Bush had a brush with the law just outside the Padres' training camp in Peoria, Ariz., less than two weeks after he was drafted. Bush, who was converted to a relief pitcher after washing out as a shortstop, was designated for assignment Feb. 5, a day after an alleged altercation on an east San Diego County high school campus. Police were investigating reports that Bush had been drinking and assaulted two high school lacrosse players.
--RF Brian Giles has countersued Cheri Olvera, his former girlfriend who is suing for $10 million, alleging physical and metal abuse. In his suit, Giles claims it was Olvera who abused him, and he is also seeking the return of an engagement ring valued at $107,952.
In his suit, Giles says Olvera struck him, pulled his hair, slapped him, hit him with a car and kicked him as well as disparaging him in front of other people by calling him names and screaming at him. Among her charges of domestic violence, Olvera claims Giles forced her to suffer a miscarriage.
--The Padres have signed former player John Vander Wal as a professional scout. Vander Wal, 42, was a pinch hitter on the 1998 Padres team that won the National League title. He will scout Florida during spring training, then scout the Southern League and four International League teams during the regular season.
--RHP Josh Geer is a candidate to win a berth in the rotation this spring, although he spent much of the winter wondering if he would need surgery after leaving his final start last September with tightness in his elbow. Geer was 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts with the Padres last September.
--RHP Livan Hernandez was drawing interest from the Padres in the weeks before the opening of spring training, but the Padres decided against further pursuing the free agent. Could positive reports about the health of RHPs Mark Prior and Josh Geer have factored into that decision?
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Rule 5 picks, SS Everth Cabrera and RHP Ivan Nova, on the Padres' 40-man roster.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If he is healthy, and thus far all the signs are encouraging, Mark Prior is my ace in the hole." -- Padres general manager Kevin Towers, on the comeback attempt of RHP Mark Prior.
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