Happy Halloweeen everyone. Lots to cover today with some big announcements recently. Tony Larusa retired this morning as well. Here are Padres links:

Phil Plantier is the new Padres hitting coach - Padres official site

"Plantier, 42, replaces Randy Ready, who was dismissed the day after the conclusion of the 2011 season. Only the Giants scored fewer runs than the Padres in the National League."
Gaslamp Ball shares their opinion on Plantier

"A new season, a new Padres hitting coach. Teaching somebody how to hit at Petco Park is a lot like teaching a man how to fish in the desert"

Three player's options were declined yesterday - The Associated Press

"...the San Diego trio of right-handers Aaron Harang and Chad Qualls, and outfielder Brad Hawpe."

Tom Krasovic has an interview with Jason McLeod - insidethe padres.com

"McLeod's decisions over the last two years will be felt at 19 Tony Gwynn Drive for many seasons to come. Draft selections on his watch such as Jedd Gyorko, Austin Hedges, Cory Spangenberg and Joe Ross are part of why Baseball America's Jim Callis tells this blog the Padres' farm system soon likely will have its best ranking since 2002."

John Coniff also interviewed Jason McLeod - Madfriars.com

"Despite a last place finish this season, the front office tandem of Hoyer and McLeod was fairly well respected in their two season so it came as a shock to many that they would be joining their former boss Theo Epstein."

The Padres need to use Petco to lure more pitchers - throughthefencebaseball

"The one advantage PETCO Park gives the Padres is the ability to lure pitchers into its spacious confines. The Padres have a wealth of starting pitching depth, but their bullpen depth has been depleted since last offseason."

A couple of tweets from Dan Hayes:

Harang declined his player option

and

Phil Plantier will look for an assistant

MLBTR has a complete list of all free agents as well as a tracker

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