A couple of weeks after saying that the Padres are "pretty much done," Jed Hoyer has signed Jorge Cantu to a one year deal worth $850 thousand. The first-and-third baseman will help solidify the bench and provide right-handed relief for Chase Headley and Brad Hawpe.

Like so many of Jed's other acquisitions this winter, Cantu had a down 2010. In his prior two seasons for the Florida Marlins, Cantu had a 106 wRC+ with 45 home runs and +4.0 wins. Then, in 2010, his SLG dipped below .400 and his OBP threatened to do the same with .300. There's no clear cut culprit for why Cantu fell like he did, but it's worth noting that Cantu's K% rose over 20% for the first time since 2007.

Over the course of his seven year career, Cantu's had four years with a K% over 20%. In those four years, his total IsoP is .143. In the other three, his total IsoP is .191. The better contact Cantu makes, the better power he's shown so hopefully the Padres will be able to keep him within himself. Coming off the bench in high WPA situations, which Cantu will likely do a lot of, will make it a challenge. Fortunately, there should still be ample opportunity for Cantu to get three or four at-bats a game.

The idea of Cantu as a platoon partner at one of the corners is intriguing. He's not your prototypical platoon player, as his splits versus left-handed pitching (100 wRC+) are very close to his splits against right-handed pitching (99 wRC+), but all that really matters is that he can hit lefties. And that's good, because Headley and Hawpe can't.

Headley has a career 81 wRC+ and Hawpe a career 91 wRC+. Neither is very good but Headley's is especially bad. Working on the Savior's behalf is both his glove and Cantu's. Though he used to play second base, Cantu is primarily a first and third baseman at this point in his career and even then, one's only by technicality.

In 1,594 innings at first, Cantu has a 0.3 UZR (0.9 UZR/150) and a -8 DRS. In 2,696 innings at third, he has a -31.4 UZR (-16.6 UZR/150) and a -34 DRS. UZR and DRS differ on Cantu's first base abilities but they both agree that he's an awful third baseman. Despite Headley's struggles from the right-side of the plate, the team would likely be hurting itself by going with Cantu and his iron mitt. At first, not so much. Hawpe's extra $2 million should give him the edge to start the season but if he stumbles, Cantu could make for a very able replacement.

The acquisition of Cantu is a solid one for a number of reasons, not the least of which his affordable price tag. With his technical flexibility, Cantu should help keep Headley fresh towards the end of the season while also filling the team's Team Mexico quota. Even if he only takes Matt Stairs' role as the big bat for Black to not use before the eighth inning, Cantu will still make for a(nother) solid addition to the 2011 team.