Padres Avoid Arbitration with Wallace

The San Diego Padres had a busy week, which included avoiding arbitration with first baseman Brett Wallace and signing him to one-year deal for $1 million.

After being recalled from Triple-A El-Paso on June 19, Wallace hit .302 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 64 games. He signed with the Padres last winter as a Minor League free agent.

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Wallace made his debut with the Houston Astros on July 31, 2010. He was released after the 2013 season. He spent all of the 2014 season in the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays Minor League system.

In 375 career Major League games, Wallace has batted .247 with 34 home runs and 118 RBIs.

The Padres also non-tendered third baseman Will Middlebrooks, catcher Rocky Gale and left-handed reliever Frank Garces.

Middlebrooks was the team’s opening day starter in 2015 and hit .212 with nine home runs and RBIs in 83 games. He was sent down to Triple-A El Paso on July 21. He spent the previous three seasons with the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the Padres last year. He is now a free agent and his future very much in doubt.

Gale had one hit in 10 at-bats this season with no home runs and RBIs. He was drafted in the 24^th round (724^th overall) by the Padres in 2010.

Garces went 0-1 with a 5.21 ERA in 40 games. He made his debut for the Padres on August 19, 2014. With the acquisition of Drew Pomeranz it seemingly fills the left-handed void in the bullpen for the moment.

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According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, general manager AJ Preller said on Wednesday that he is interested in re-signing Middlebrooks, Gale and Garces to Minor League deals if they are interested.

The biggest story remains what will happen with starting pitcher James Shields. The Padres are reportedly pushing to move him. He has three years, $63 million left on his contact so they will have to find a buyer willing to take that on.

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