Recap Of Latest Padres Chat With Bill Center

Another week has gone by in the off-season and the Padres still to be in a stagnant mode. Bill Center does a great job as always in providing Padres fans with some insight to the moves that the club is pursuing. Here are the more pertinet questions that were answered:

As one could imagine, there were a plethora of questions about the Padres potential interest in Giancarlo Stanton. There have been conflicting reports about the Padres interest in the young slugger. Center speculates that the price for Stanton will be more than the Padres would be willing to offer.

September 8, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley (7) during his at bat during the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Center thinks that the Padres will start talking to Chase Headley about an extension this spring. Headley is under team control for another two years, so the Padres would probably look at a four or five-year deal. Another big season could put Headley out of the Padres price range.

Center also hit on Austin Hedges the Padres top catching prospect. Despite being just 20 years-old, Hedges got the invite to big-league camp. Center thinks that Hedges should hit around .270 as a Major Leaguer. I am hopeful to get up to Lake Elsinore a few times this year to get a look at Hedges. Hedges looks like the real-deal, based upon what I have read about him.

The rest of the chat is just more speculation we have covered here at Chicken Friars. The chat notes can be found here.