Trade of Ross indicates Barfield will be a starter

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Tuesday, March 21, 2006 11:46 PM PST ∞

TUCSON, Ariz. ---- Manager Bruce Bochy isn't ready to make an announcement, but Josh Barfield has all but wrapped up the Padres' second-base job.

On the field Tuesday, the 23-year-old rookie went 3-for-5 with two doubles in a 10-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox, raising his spring average to .469 with a team-high eight doubles, 14 runs and 12 RBIs. Barfield also continued to play near-flawless defense.

Off the field, the Padres provided further evidence that Barfield has won his competition with veteran Mark Bellhorn by trading away one of their top contenders for a bench spot. David Ross, who was trying to make the team as a No. 3 catcher, was sent to the Cincinnati Reds for minor-league pitcher Bobby Basham.

"As of right now, I see Bellhorn and Barfield both being on this club," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. "If Barfield wasn't going to be on the club, the likelihood of keeping a third catcher was better."

Towers has said Barfield would either make the team as the starter or go back to Triple-A Portland to play every day. Bellhorn, batting .200 this month, appears headed for an infield reserve role. He will likely be joined on the bench by infielder Geoff Blum, infielder/outfielder Eric Young, outfielder Terrmel Sledge and catcher Doug Mirabelli.

Reputed to be weak with the bat, Ross stated his case for inclusion convincingly by going 9-for-17 with three home runs. The Padres considered sending him to Triple-A, but Ross is out of minor-league options, and Towers thought another team would claim him off waivers. Pete Laforest will now be the catcher for Portland.

Basham, a 26-year-old right-hander, went 10-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 20 combined starts at Single-A and Double-A last season. Towers likes the command and athleticism of Basham, a former quarterback at the University of Richmond who was recommended by Padres scout Ken Bracey.

"He's someone we think could move quickly through the system," Towers said of Basham, who will start at Double-A Mobile.

Good stuff, bad numbers


Chris Young is doing his best to focus on his arm and not the stat sheet.

Young, expected to be the Padres' No. 2 starter, was lifted in the second inning Tuesday after giving up five runs on six hits with two walks, putting his spring ERA at 12.60.

Young, though, said his fastball was the best it has been this month ---- an assessment that Towers agreed with.

"I hate to keep going off feel, but I feel as good as I ever have in spring training," Young said. "I'm trying not to get caught up in results, but it's hard because I feel good and it's not showing up on paper."

Bochy said Young might have relied on his fastball too much and that he was tipping off his change-up.

Short hops


RHP Clay Hensley earned the save Tuesday with a scoreless inning of relief that he sorely needed. Hensley entered the game having allowed 11 runs in six innings this spring. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit (concerned)," Hensley said. "I wasn't getting movement on the ball, so I was trying to create it, and that's always dangerous. (The coaches) kept telling me to trust my stuff." ... The Padres added LHP Alan Embree to their 40-man roster to prevent him from exercising an out clause in his contract. Embree's 2006 salary of $850,000 remains nonguaranteed until he makes the major-league roster. ... The club traded 1B Greg Sain, a University of San Diego product who ended last season at Triple-A, to Milwaukee for a player to be named. The Padres also have signed RHP Kenny "Bubba" Nelson, 24, a former top prospect of the Atlanta Braves who was recently released by Cincinnati. ... With David Ross traded, manager Bruce Bochy said utilityman Geoff Blum would be the Padres' emergency catcher.

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