SAN DIEGO -- If the Padres don't reach 2 million tickets sold this year for the first full season since 1993, it won't be for a lack of effort.

Faced with a deep economic crisis, a team fresh off a 99-loss season, an owner-mandated $40 million payroll and the absence of fan-favorites Trevor Hoffman and Khalil Greene, the Padres are offering a multitude of value-based promotions in 2009 in an attempt to keep fans coming to Petco Park.

Although season-ticket sales are expected to be significantly down in 2009 -- perhaps by as much as one-third -- the Padres are hopeful for success at the turnstiles.

The Padres sold season tickets in the "mid-teens" last year, according to one source, and drew 2,427,535 fans, the team's lowest total since moving into Petco Park in 2004. The Padres could have trouble hitting 10,000 season tickets sold this year, according to several sources.

"We're very optimistic and the sky is not falling," Padres CEO Sandy Alderson said. "Our season ticket sales will be down, but there's always the very strong possibility that individual games and group sales will be up."

Losing alone hasn't stopped fans from attending Padres games. Even when the team averaged 92 losses from 2001-03, it still averaged 2,209,604 fans per season at Qualcomm Stadium.

But with the economic downturn, the club knows many people are carefully watching how they spend their money. That's why the franchise opted to lower prices on nearly 25 percent of all game tickets earlier this offseason and is offering promotions on 48 of its 81 home dates.

The Padres are also offering seven 2-for-1 ticket games and a 5-for-$5 deal -- a hot dog, soda, peanuts, popcorn and a cookie -- at the concession stands for all home games.

"We thought (lowering prices) was a major step in response to the economy," Alderson said. "We will continue to emphasize value in the atmosphere and experience. We're trying to make tickets and concessions as affordable for as many people as possible. I expect we will be proactive as the season progresses. People will realize Padres baseball is a great value."

The Padres are also offering a hot dog, soda and upper reserved ticket for $12 for all home games on Friday through Sunday.

"We want to remain relevant," said George Stieren, director of business public relations. "We're keenly aware of what the world talks about at Starbucks in the morning. And we think you can find some pretty great deals. … Almost every discussion on these matters starts and ends with (the affordability factor)."

Individual game tickets go on sale March 7.

Padres notes

Shortly after C Brad Ausmus reportedly accepted a one-year contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Padres signed C Henry Blanco, 37, to a one-year deal as a mentor for Nick Hundley. Blanco hit .292 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 58 games with the Chicago Cubs last season. "We were able to get an experienced catcher with considerable postseason experience," general manager Kevin Towers said in a release. "Henry is a clubhouse leader and a good, veteran catcher who mentored Geovany Soto in Chicago. We look for him to do the same this year with Nick Hundley." … CEO Sandy Alderson said on his weekly radio show Wednesday that "with some certainty we can say he'll be with us" regarding RHP Jake Peavy. "Deals like that don't normally get done this late in the offseason," Alderson said. He added that the decision will have been made by Feb. 1.

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Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at dhayes@nctimes.com.