Earlier this week, Jed Hoyer and the Padres signed Jason Bartlett to a two year deal worth a guaranteed $11 million, with a club option for 2013. This is noteworthy for two reasons: 1. the team has locked up its middle infield through next season, which gives Everth Cabrera time to figure things out in Triple-A, and 2. they've shown that they're not afraid to hand out fair contracts. Bartlett and Hudson will combine to make $8 million in 2011, more than double what Will Venable, Chase Headley, Nick Hundley, and Cameron Maybin will combine to make. Any fears that Jed Hoyer will continue the previous regime's dumpster diving ways can be put to rest.

Now, with that out of the way, let's talk about yesterday's dumpster diving.

The team agreed to a one year deal worth a guaranteed $2 million with reliever Chad Qualls and closed in on a deal with catcher Gregg Zaun, though the details were not available as of the writing of this article. Both players will provide depth in supporting roles. 

Like his Tampa Bay teammates Bartlett and Brad Hawpe, Qualls had a bad 2010, posting a 7.32 ERA. Thanks in large part to a BABIP of .399, eighty points higher than his career mark, Qualls' career ERA jumped from 3.32 up to 3.82, dropping his asking price in the process. The good news is that this kind of thing happens. Given the nature of their work, and work load, relief pitchers are susceptible to off years. Though he's never been a lights out guy, Qualls brought a career FIP of 3.70 into last season and has done a good job of keeping the ball over the plate. Assuming that there are no physical problems, which his maintained velocity rates suggest is not the case, and with PETCO at his back, Qualls should make for another strong beam in the bridge to GAB. 

Zaun, yet another former Ray, joins Rob Johnson and Guillermo Quiroz in the competition to be Nick Hundley's backup and with over 1,200 games' worth of experience, Zaun looks to have the inside track. Which isn't to say that Zaun, who's going to be 40-years-old and is coming off of shoulder surgery, is without risk. But despite these obvious concerns, Zaun looks to be the team's best option. Over the course of his 16 year career, Zaun has a 94 wRC+, with a 100 wRC+ over the past three seasons. For those wondering, Hundley sports a career 93 wRC+. 

With Johnson and Quiroz providing insurance if/when Zaun heads to the DL, the Padres did well to shore up the catcher's position. It's doubtful that Zaun will be able to match Torrealba's 2.4 WAR (it's doubtful that Torrealba will either) but the Practically Perfect Backup Catcher should get the job done in 2011.

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