Padres, Barrett avoid arbitration

According to an AP report, the Padres have avoided arbitration with catcher Michael Barrett and have signed him to a 1-year $3.5M deal.

Barrett could also earn another $750,000 in performance bonuses.

Nady returning to San Diego?

According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune, the Padres could pull off a trade that would bring outfielder Xavier Nady back to San Diego. The Pirates are said to be interested in backup catcher Michael Barrett, but I doubt the Pirates will make a straight up trade with the Padres.

Pirates interested in Barrett

12.11.7 12:43pm PST

According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Pirates may have interest in trading for Padres' catcher Michael Barrett, who just recently accepted arbitration from the Padres.

The problem on the Padres' side of things is dealing Barrett to Pittsburgh won't net them much more than a low end prospect, but with the Pirates possibly shopping Jason Bay and Xavier Nady , both teams could talk about a bigger deal in the near future.

12.8.07 7:00pm PST

Although Michael Barrett has accepted arbitration with the San Diego Padres, it doesn't mean he'll start the season with them. There's a lot of talk that the Padres will look to trade him in the coming weeks to teams like Tampa or Pittsburgh, who have been rumored to be interested in him.

Padres in talks with Eckstein?

Padres GM Kevin Towers confirmed that he has had talks with free agent shortstop David Eckstein and they would be interested in him but only on a 1-year deal basis. Though talks are ongoing, Towers said a deal is not close.

Towers also confirms that he has had ongoing talks with free agent center fielder Mike Cameron while they wait for a decision from Kosuke Fukudome. Both sides have agreed on a deal being for 2-years but are far apart as far as dollars go.

Towers denies reports that the Padres plan to shop catcher Michael Barrett after he agreed to arbitration.

Barrett could still be traded by San Diego

Although Michael Barrett has accepted arbitration with the San Diego Padres, it doesn't mean he'll start the season with them. There's a lot of talk that the Padres will look to trade him in the coming weeks to teams like Tampa or Pittsburgh, who have been rumored to be interested in him.