PADRES NOTES: Save this: Hoffman, Padres could extend relationship

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer -   | Thursday, September 4, 2008 12:28 AM PDT ∞

LOS ANGELES ---- Trevor Hoffman is hesitant to make concrete decisions about his future before October, but he's almost certain that the 2008 season won't be his last.

The Padres closer, a pending free agent who will turn 41 next month, also should have a pretty good idea whether he'll be part of the Padres' future by the end of September.

General manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday that he'll have preliminary discussions with Hoffman before the end of the season.

"I think I've got two or three more years left in me," Hoffman said. "We have a lot of talent here. I'd like to see their growth take hold. I'd like to be a part of that. ... The talent we have, with some pieces added, I'm thinking we could be back at the top of the division quickly."

Towers said talks with Hoffman, who's making $7.5 million this year, will partly concern the makeup of the 2009 Padres roster. Early indications are that the club won't match its $73.6 million payroll of this season, but it's unlikely to be as low as the $40 million some reports have suggested. 

"We'll give him an idea of what the club is going to look like in 2009," Towers said.

The Padres are happy with Hoffman's performance this year, several sources said. His fastball hovers between 85-87 mph, and his changeup remains an out pitch. He has converted 27 of 31 save chances with 44 strikeouts and eight walks in 40 1/3 innings.

Before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, Towers said he was reluctant to discuss potential Hoffman deals because he wanted baseball's all-time saves leader to retire a Padre.

"His role is closer if he's going to be here," Towers said.

 

Gerut out again

Center fielder Jody Gerut's sprained left middle finger continues to improve, but manager Bud Black said Gerut might be out through the weekend in Milwaukee. He's hitting .297 with 14 home runs but hasn't played since Aug. 27.

"Obviously, (the injury is) more significant than the medical staff and Jody first thought," Black said.

 

Et cetera

OF Chase Headley fielded ground balls at third base during batting practice on Wednesday. Manager Bud Black has said Headley could play a few games at third before the season is over. ... RHP Chad Reineke will likely miss the four-game series in Milwaukee this weekend with discomfort in his shoulder, Black said. ... LHP Shawn Estes flew to Milwaukee ahead of the Padres, who are scheduled to arrive at 6 a.m. Thursday. Estes won't be on a pitch count when he starts the opener. ... OF Scott Hairston's surgery Tuesday revealed that his thumb ligament was completely torn.