The 2010 Padres bullpen finished the season as the top ranked group in baseball with a 2.78 ERA. They were a huge contributor to the success of last season. Forced to use their strength to acquire talent for the upcoming season, the front office traded several members of that bullpen to secure the talent needed. No longer with the bullpen are Edward Mujica, Adam Russell, Ryan Webb and possibly future bullpen members Brandon Gomes and Radhames Liz.

Acquired over the offseason to bolster the 2011 bullpen were free agent signees George Kontos, Chad Qualls and starter/reliever Dustin Moseley. Returning to the bullpen will be Mike Adams, Ernesto Frieri, Luke Gregerson, Joe Thatcher and Heath Bell. Assuming that we know who 4 of the 5 starters will be (Latos, Richard, Stauffer, Harang) that leaves the 5^th spot to be filled by Cory Luebke or Dustin Moseley or Wade LeBlanc. If Moseley wins the 5^th spot then LeBlanc and Luebke will start the season in AAA Tucson. Moseley will become a member of the bullpen if he does not win a starting job. That will leave Qualls and Kontos fighting for the last bullpen spot with Qualls having the upper hand with many years of major league experience and success. Unless, of course, something surprising or unexpected happens in spring training, which is often the case.

Let’s take a look at the prospective members of the 2011 bullpen plus the possible backups available during the season. The discussion will include those on the 40-man roster and those who are invited to spring camp for some major league exposure and evaluation by the coaching staff.

Chad Qualls: 32 yr old, R/R, 6-5, 220. Known as durable with 51 career saves in 2 seasons as a closer. Had a down 2010 season with a 7.32 ERA in 70 appearances with AZ and TB. A sinker/slider pitcher who had knee surgery in ’09 and was a victim of some bad luck and may have not found his good delivery one season after surgery. The Padres and Qualls are hoping for a bounce back season in a less stressful position. He will not be expected to carry the late game load routinely and will be used in spring to determine his best utility.

George Kontos: Rule V draft pickup from NYY who must stay with team for the season or be offered back to NY. 25 yr old, R/R, 6-3, 215, drafted in ’06 and worked his way up through the NY system ’06-’10. Has served mostly as a reliever with a 21-29 record across 5 seasons, 3.47 ERA and a 3:1 K/BB ratio and 1.247 WHIP. He throws a 91-95 mph FB. 83-86 mph slider and pitches well inside with his plus slider. He also has a plus curve and uses a change occasionally against lefties.  Kontos suffered an elbow injury in ’09 and underwent TJ surgery, missing most of ’10 season. The projection is that he will be fully healthy this season but his throwing might be limited early.

Dustin Moseley: 30 yr old, R/R, 6-4, 215. ’08 and ’09 with the LAA, ’10 NYY and non-tendered by NY. Known as a long reliever/spot starter who will be in the bullpen if he doesn’t make it into the rotation. 4-4, 65.1 IP and 4.96 ERA with 1.42 WHIP last season. He has served as a reliever the last 3 seasons with an 89-90 FB, cutter, curve and change but none of those are plus pitches and occasionally has control issues.

Jeremy Hefner: R/R. Drafted by the Padres in ’07, he spent the last 2 seasons in Portland and San Antonio. Had an 11-8 2.95 ERA in 167.2 IP last season and a 1.235 WHIP. Has a 92-93 mph FB and a good curve. He was judged by Baseball America to have the best change in the organization in ’09. Most probably will start the season in Tucson.

Aaron Poreda: Many of you are familiar with Poreda from his brief stints with the Padres after being acquired from the White Sox in the Jake Peavy trade. Poreda has a mid 90’s FB and a plus change but has serious control issues and loses his mechanics routinely. As a left-handed reliever he will be a valuable asset if he is ever able to become consistent.

Evan Scribner: 26 yr old, R/R, acquired from AZ in the Tony Clark trade in ’08. Played ’09-’10 in San Antonio with a 4-5 record and 2.59 ERA in ’10. He had 16 saves as the closer for SA. That position was shared with Craig Italiano.

Samuel Deduno; 28 yr old, R/R, 6-3, 190 undrafted Dominican signed in ’03 by the Rockies. Played in the Rockies system through the 2010 season and had his first call up in August. He missed all of the ’08 season due to injury. He has a 91-92 mph FB, sinker, power curve and a change. His success has been slowed by control issues and has problems with excessive walks. Projected as a late inning reliever, he was claimed off waivers from the Rockies.

Those are the pitchers on the 40-man roster that will provide the depth for the 2010 season. The following are not on the roster but received invites to spring camp.

Scott Munter: A reliever for his entire career, mostly in the minors and has been through 10 seasons. With SF, TB and the Rockies the last several years he was released by the Rockies and signed by the Padres.

Greg Burke: This is Burke’s 3^rd stint with the Padres and was on the 40 man roster last season but released in November and resigned in January.

Craig Italiano: The closer for San Antonio until plagued by injuries, Italiano was released and then resigned after clearing waivers. Throwing a FB, change and slider, Italiano has good stuff but has not been able to stay healthy.

Colt Hynes: L/L, 5-11, 200, drafted in ’07 and played with San Antonio in ’10 with a 1.19 ERA in 24 games, 30.1 IP pitching in late innings predominately.

Alexis Lara: R/R, spent 2010 between A, AA, AAA with a 5-6 record and 4.36 ERA in 74.1 IP throwing a FB, slider and change.

Rob Musgrave: L/L, 6-1, 205 drafted in ’08 and pitched very effectively for Lake Elsinore last season. 4-4, 2.48 ERA in 98 IP with 27 BB and 113 SO.

Luis Perdomo: 27 yr old pitching in AAA in ’09 and ’10 with a 4.87 ERA in 61 IP in ’10.

Brad Brach: R/R, 6-6. 210. Finished 2010 as the Pitcher of the Year in the Cal League for Lake Elsinore and set a Cal League record for saves with 41. In 65.2 IP he finished with a 2.47 ERA and a 0.929 WHIP. He will start the season in AA San Antonio.

Randy Flores; Signed last week and invited to spring camp, this 6-0, 190, L/L played over the last 8 seasons with the Cards, Rockies, Rangers and Twins as a reliever with a 4.61 ERA and 250 IP. He pitched against the Padres in both the ’05 and ’06 playoffs with the Cardinals.

This is the crop of relievers that Bud Black and his staff have to choose from to fill out the bullpen for the 2011 season. Most if not all of the non-roster invitees will most likely not make the team, barring injury, but provide minor league depth to pull from. There is significant depth in this group but don’t ever be surprised if Hoyer adds more pitching during the spring. As the cliché goes, you can never have too much pitching.