Opening Day 2009 is 10 days away as Padres’ GM Kevin Towers attempts to piece-meal the pitching staff together. One avenue that Towers is most likely observing closely is those players who are Out of Options. Most notably are from the Tampa Bay Rays franchise, pitchers Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann, Angels Jason Bulger and Shane Loux, and D’backs Yusmeiro Petit. If I were a betting man, the odds that Hammel or Niemann along with Jason Bulger will be with the Padres is fairly reasonable. I don’t think our western division foes D’Backs will give away Petit. Bulger would be a tremendous upgrade in the pen and Hammel or Niemann could compete for one of the starting slots. Let’s see what eventually unfolds while Towers is working his mojo !

More pitchers on the way…..
The deal for Khalil Greene came to a closure as the Cardinals sent pitching prospect Luke Gregerson to the Padres. I really like this acquisition and Gregerson may have an opportunity to pitch in the big show this year. Gregerson’s fate all lies in what unfolds the next 10 days, depending on what other player acquisitions the Padres do complete. For now, consider Gregerson to start the season in the minors. In other news, the Padres signed RHP Shawn Hill to a minor league contract. Hill has a great opportunity to compete and crack into the starting rotation immediately. Though, as spring training winds down, I like Walter Silva alot. Who knows, perhaps Kevin Correia will end up in the pen. Lastly, do not forget the Dodgers owe the Padres two pitching prospects from the Maddux deal. If I am not mistaken, those two prospects should be named at the conclusion of spring training.

While Padres’ GM Kevin Towers and the Front Office works into the midnight hours, here’s a song played by BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Etta James, titled ‘Midnight Hour’