Padres Notebook: Padres send Neal to Red Sox for Hyzdu

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Tuesday, March 22, 2005 11:01 PM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- The three-man race for the spot filling out the Padres' bullpen has been thinned to two. Knuckleballer Steve Sparks and left-hander Randy Williams are left to duel after the Padres traded Blaine Neal to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday for outfielder Adam Hyzdu.

Padres general manager Kevin Towers said the deal helps to compensate for the loss of center field prospect Freddy Guzman, who's out for at least another month with an injured throwing elbow.

"We just don't have a lot of depth, guys who can play center field," Towers said of the position, where Dave Roberts is the starter. "(Hyzdu) gives us some insurance if we were to go with 11 pitchers. If he doesn't make the club, we'd have experienced insurance at Triple-A."

Of the three main contenders to be the Padres' long reliever out of the bullpen, Neal was the only one to pitch for the club last season. Acquired from Florida in a swap for Ben Howard just before Opening Day, the 27-year-old right-hander was called up on June 12 and went 1-1 with a 4.07 ERA in 40 games.

Neal had struggled in spring training, carrying a 6.43 ERA. But neither Sparks nor Williams has emerged from the pack ---- both have ERAs above 7.00, and Williams has an injured hip flexor ---- leading manager Bruce Bochy this week to label the competition too close to call.

"Neal did a nice job last year for us," Bochy said. "This (trade) gives us a little more depth in the outfield. We were getting a little backed up in the 'pen."

Hyzdu is far removed from his days as a heralded minor-league prospect. A graduate of Cincinnati's Moeller High, he was San Francisco's first-round draft pick in 1990 after breaking Ken Griffey Jr.'s career home run record and being named Gatorade High School Player of the Year.

Hyzdu didn't make the majors for a decade and, now 33, will be playing for his sixth organization. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he is a power hitter who belted 29 home runs for Boston's Triple-A affiliate to earn a September call-up to the eventual world champions, for whom he batted .300 in 17 games.

Bonds ripple effect

Word of Barry Bonds' surprising statement that he might not play this season slowly leaked into the Padres' clubhouse on Tuesday.

The Giants' slugger told team reporters that the double-whammy of two knee surgeries since January and the omnipresent steroids scandal has physically and mentally sapped him. An extended absence by Bonds, a seven-time National League MVP, figures to alter the balance of power in a division the Giants have been a chic pick to win.

"That changes things tremendously," Roberts said.

"Pedro Feliz (Bonds' likely replacement) is a good player, but he doesn't get on base like Bonds. I can't think of a single player who means as much to his team as he does."

Bonds has feasted on the Padres throughout his career. He has hit 79 home runs against them, including his 700th in a September game at SBC Park.

Short hops

RHP Jake Peavy threw off flat ground from 70 feet, testing for the first time the strained left groin he suffered on Friday. Peavy reported no discomfort and is scheduled for a bullpen session on Friday. "Barring any setbacks, he's set to go (for the April 7 home opener)," manager Bruce Bochy said. ... The Padres invited OF Orlando Merced in for a minor-league tryout. Merced, 37, went to spring training with Pittsburgh after batting .231 with three home runs and 26 RBIs as Houston's primary left-handed hitter off the bench last season. ... RHP Adam Eaton allowed one earned run in five innings, and Brian Giles had three hits in the Padres' 5-3 loss to San Francisco.

Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.