San Diego
Padres

Although Gonzalez has two seasons to run on his contract, the Padres are listening to overtures from teams that might be interested in Gonzalez.

And while Gonzalez has no say in a possible trade, Boggs believes any team interested in trading for Gonzalez would seek to discuss a long-term contract with him.

There's also the remote possibility that the Padres might try to rewrite Gonzalez's contract. At the moment, Gonzalez is due $10.25 million -- plus perhaps another $500,000 in performance bonuses -- through the end of the 2011 season.

At that point, Gonzalez becomes a free agent.

Boston, Seattle and the Los Angeles Dodgers have expressed interest in Gonzalez. Hoyer has denied rumors of possible trades with the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets.

While many teams might want to nail down a local hero to a long-term contract, the Padres might not be in financial position to court a deal with Gonzalez.

The Padres could reduce their payroll from the $42.5 million they spent this year, the second-smallest payroll in the major leagues. Chris Young's $6.25 million is the largest salary on the Padres' books for 2010. Gonzalez could seek up to $15 million a season in the future.

--OF Chad Huffman (.269, 12 homers, 57 RBIs with Class AAA Portland) and RHP Craig Italiano (0-1, 1.44 ERA in 19 games at Class A Lake Elsinore after being acquired from Oakland) were added to the Padres' 40-man roster. The move prevents them from being selected in the upcoming Rule 5 draft.

--Former Padres outfielder Dave Roberts is talking to the Padres about various jobs in the organization. Roberts was raised in the San Diego area and makes his year-round home in northern San Diego County. He ended his career with the Giants and did some radio and television work in San Francisco last year.

--RHP Sean Gallagher has completed his work in the Venezuelan winter league. He reported no further problems with his knee, which cost him three months of action this season.

BY THE NUMBERS: 38 -- Players on the 40-man roster after the promotion of OF Chad Huffman and RHP Craig Italiano. 0 -- Free agents expected to sign with the Padres before January.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "They have another first baseman in Kyle Blanks. I think if they believe they can improve themselves at three or four spots by trading me, I'm going to be traded." -- 1B Adrian Gonzalez, on his future in San Diego.

FREE AGENTS: RF Brian Giles, C Henry Blanco, RHP Cha Seung Baek (released), RHP Shawn Hill (released), OF Cliff Floyd (released).

The Padres have expressed interest in re-signing Blanco, who provided leadership to the Padres' first-year Latin American players, the young pitchers and C Nick Hundley. Native San Diegan Giles, who was injured most of the season after having his option picked up for $9 million last winter, has played his last game for his hometown team.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Mike Adams, RHP Heath Bell, RHP Kevin Correia, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Adams, Bell, Correia and Kouzmanoff are core players. The Padres finished the season with a $25 million team on the field. There is probably room in the budget to negotiate contracts with the four.

IN LIMBO: With Kyle Blanks likely in left field next season and Will Venable in right, Chase Headley needs to find a new position. His natural position is third base, where Kevin Kouzmanoff has better run-production numbers and just set a National League record with a .990 fielding percentage. One will likely be traded. The Padres will be shopping for a right-handed center fielder or catcher. The team has no option contracts.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Chris Young (right shoulder surgery in August 2009) is expected to be ready by spring training.

OF Kyle Blanks (plantar fasciitis in right foot) missed the last month of the season, but he expects to be ready by spring training.

C Nick Hundley (sports hernia surgery in November 2009) should be healthy in time for spring training.