Payton signed for two yrs -- 3rd yr option -- don't have $ figures yet.

Kills any Padre interest in a Damon trade..... Padres will be quite competitive in '04 at Petco -- especially if Chubster Wells pitches well......perhaps a 24-hour guard on the Krispy Kreme will be arranged.......

That's assuming his back is good enough to have him pitch past May. I think he threw one more in his last playoff start he'd be crippled.

There is some speculation that this deal could free up Xavier Nady to be a bat off the bench for the BoSox -- Nady has looked awesome in spurts but has struggled overall -- Having watched him in person a few times -- i wouldn't mind having him either on the bench or Pawticket. Padres have Klesko/Payton/Giles and are stuck with Terrance Long off the bench plus Nady...... I believe Nady will mature into an excellent major leaguer --

:patriots

Ant suggestions on what it would take to get him?

Nady certainly wouldn't come cheap. He has great ability but just hasn't had the opportunity to get things going at the major league level. His first full season was .269/.321/.391/.712. Plenty of room for improvement but it was his first year. Nady should get some playing time, ~300-350 AB cycling around RF/LF, playing anyday an OF gets a day off (Giles moves to CF when Payton rests) or Nevin needs a day off and Klesko plays first. Of course, I assume someone will get injured there, presumably Nevin or Klesko and Nady will get then.

Random Padre thoughts:
Padres would be a great AL team pushing Nevin or Klesko to DH leaving the better fielder at 1B with Nady in the OF as I assume he is a defensive upgrade. I still can't believe they didn't get Maddux to tutor their young staff. Wells can only teach them to get loaded, something I imagine I could do equally as well as Boomer.

off-topic: 2002 Patriots Day game, Wells is doing a bullpen session in between starts around 9:30 am when someone blurts out, "Hey Wells, I bet you've been drinking since 6am like I have." Still one of my favorite Fenway experiences.

how about Kelly Shoppach? think about this if we resign Tek which would be smart Towers would make this deal pretty quick...young talent for young talent.

I would think Shoppach is a more valulable prospect than Nady to the RS just by virtue of his position. I would doubt that Theo has Tek in his plans beyond another 3 seasons at which point, a new catcher would be needed. Shoppach, by all accounts is one of the few upper minor league prospects that the RS have. I think he will be worked onto the major league roster in 2005 as a back-up catcher replacing Mirabelli. Not to crap on your idea - I just think it is easier to find OF's than C's.

I don't think Nady will get much time this year in the Majors, Pad's still have righthanded hitter Brian Buchanan who plays OF/1B.

I saw elsewhere that Buchanon rips lefties ..... he's a big boy with power -- might be an interesting bat of the bench. Don't know what they want for Nady or Buchanon -- prospect plus cash???

Also, Wells showed up "svelte" at his press conference this week - -has lost 20 lbs. since the surgery -- already at last yrs spring training weight -- working with some personal trainer. Wouldn't Yanks just love to see him win 20 this year! HAHA. Wells grew up out here , and despite his beer n pasta history might be motivated as they're playing him up to be the staff ace.

Pads also signed Rey Ordonez to backup Khalil Greene at short.