Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff was a hot topic at baseball's winter meetings on Tuesday, but the Padres might be closer to determining the fate of starting pitcher Kevin Correia.
While Kouzmanoff was prominently involved in rumored deals with the San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins, Correia's agent, Barry Axelrod, held a "productive" 45-minute meeting with general manager Jed Hoyer in Indianapolis and headed home with a contract offer.
Both Correia and Kouzmanoff ---- along with relievers Heath Bell and Mike Adams ---- are eligible for salary arbitration and due for a raise, meaning the Padres must determine what to do with those players by Saturday or they'll become free agents.
Axelrod, who headed home a day early to beat a blizzard forecast for Wednesday, said he expects further discussions regarding Correia ---- who went 12-11 with a 3.91 ERA in a team-high 33 starts ---- later in the week. He added that even if Correia becomes a free agent, the Padres can still vie for his services, albeit against other teams that might be interested.
"Nothing's final, but we're in the process of talking about a deal," Axelrod said by phone. "The proposal was not jumped at, but we'll talk again. ... Kevin's choice is to stay in San Diego for a variety of reasons. The only reason (he'd leave) would be if he was not compensated appropriately."
One source said the two sides are not discussing a multiyear deal. The Padres probably want to see more success from Correia, who has a 26-33 career record, but flourished in his first season working with pitching coach Darren Balsley and manager Bud Black after signing a minor-league deal last offseason. If he replicates his 2009 numbers in 2010, Correia ---- who earned a base salary of $750,000 last season ---- will command a far bigger contract through free agency next offseason.
Kouzmanoff's name has circulated in the rumor mill because he is expected to receive a big raise for 2010. Coming off a season in which he produced a career-high 88 RBIs and established a National League record by committing only three errors in more than 300 chances, Kouzmanoff could earn between $3-5 million in arbitration. Last season, Kouzmanoff earned $432,000.
One team source said as many as eight teams have inquired about the 28-year-old, with the Giants and Twins the strongest suitors. San Francisco reportedly offered left-handed-hitting outfielder Fred Lewis and utility player Kevin Frandsen for Kouzmanoff, but a Padres source said that deal was unlikely.
Hoyer said the second day of the winter meetings was "pretty quiet" and that few teams asked about first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
Another team source said the Padres, who are expected to have a $40 million payroll, are not likely to pursue a free agent during the meetings. The Padres are more likely to wait out the market and look for bargains late in the offseason.
Hoyer has said he is interested in adding a veteran starting pitcher, another reliever, a right-handed-hitting outfielder, a utility infielder and a backup catcher this offseason.
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