Padres Reach Deals With 5 Players; 3 Remain Unsigned

In what will probably be hailed as the team’s biggest off-season signings, the Padres were able to avoid arbitration and re-sign a slew of players that include outfielder Will Venable; shortstop Everth Cabrera; catcher John Baker; and pitchers Joe Thatcher and Edinson Volquez.

The team is also exchanging salary figures with pitchers Luke Gregerson, Clayton Richard and third baseman Chase Headley, according to Corey Brock of Padres.com

July 25, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder

(25) bats against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at AT

Venable,30, agreed to a $2.675 million contract for the 2013 season. Venable earns himself a small raise from the $1.47 million he made in 2012. His pay raise comes after he posted a .264 batting average with 9 home runs and 45 RBIs  in 148 games last season.

Cabrera avoids arbitration by agreeing to a $1.27 million contract for 2013. The switch-hitting shortstop will see his salary nearly triple from the $495,600 he made in 2012. The Nicaraguan posted a 2012 slash line of .246/.324/.324.

Thatcher, the longest tenured Padre, will enter his seventh season with the the ball club after agreeing to a $1.35 million deal for next season, a jump from the $700,000 he earned last year.  The left-hander held a a 1-4 record with a 3.41 ERA in 55 games last season.

Volquez is the ace off the starting rotation and he has been rewarded for his 2012 season where he went 11-11 with a 4.11 ERA. His reliable 2012 season has him avoiding arbitration by agreeing to a contract worth $5.725 million in 2013. In 2012, made $2.375 million.

Baker filled in at catcher quite nicely for the struggling Nick Hundley. Baker put together a .238 average with 14 RBIs in 63 games last year. He will be back with the club next year as he is to make $930,000. Last year, he made $750,000.

Not Yet Signed

Luke Gregerson, one of the most efficient setup men in all of baseball, made $1.55 million in 2012, and is said to be seeking a contract of about $3.75 million in 2013. Gregerson deserves every penny as he pitched to a 2.39 ERA with 9.0 SO/9 this past year.

After six Major League seasons, Chase Headley had his finest Major League season of his career. A year ago, Headley batted .286 with 31 home runs and won the RBI crown in the National League with 115.His efforts garnered him his first Gold Glove award and his first Silver Slugger. He did all this while earning $3.47 milllion. Headley is now seeking a contract for 2013 worth around $10.3 million.

Clayton Richard, continues to impress each season. This past year, the southpaw compiled a 14-14 record with a 3.99 ERA and a team leading 218 2/3 innings pitched. Richard earned $2.705 million last season. He is looking for a contract for next year at about $5.55 million.