Padres tender contracts to 36 players
Club agrees to terms with Denorfia, non-tenders Hermida
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced they have tendered contracts to 36 players for the 2012 season, including an agreement with outfielder Chris Denorfia on a one-year contract. Already under contract for 2012 were right-handed pitcher Huston Street, infielders Jason Bartlett and Orlando Hudson and outfielder Mark Kotsay. In addition, the club non-tendered outfielder Jeremy Hermida. Executive vice president/general manager Josh Byrnes made the announcements.
Denorfia, 31, hit .277 (85-for-307) with 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 19 RBI, 38 runs and a career-high 11 stolen bases in a career-high 111 games played in 2011 for San Diego. In two seasons (2010-11) for the Padres, he has hit .274 (162-for-591) with 28 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 55 RBI, 79 runs scored and 19 stolen bases in 210 games played, 144 games started. Originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 19th-round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .275 (220-for-799) with 40 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs, 74 RBI, 112 runs scored and 23 stolen bases in 310 games played over parts of six Major League seasons with the Reds (2005-06), Oakland Athletics (2008-09) and Padres (2010-11).
Hermida, 27, was designated for assignment on December 7, 2011. The outfielder was acquired by the Padres off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on August 31, 2011. In 20 games for San Diego last season, he hit .225 (9-for-40) with two doubles, one triple, one home run, six RBI and three runs scored. Originally selected by the Florida Marlins in the first round (11th overall) of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, the left-handed hitter has hit .257 (511-for-1988) with 103 doubles, eight triples, 65 home runs, 248 RBI and 246 runs scored in 619 games over parts of seven Major League seasons with the Marlins (2005-09), Boston Red Sox (2010), Oakland Athletics (2010), Reds (2011) and Padres (2011).
With today’s announcements, the Padres currently have 40 players on their 40-man roster.