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Padres agree to terms with five players on one-year contracts for the 2013 season

Club avoids arbitration with five of eight arbitration-eligible players

The San Diego Padres today announced that they have agreed to terms with five players on one-year contracts for the 2013 season, including right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez, left-handed pitcher Joe Thatcher, catcher John Baker, infielder Everth Cabrera and outfielder Will Venable.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement.

Volquez, 29, led the Padres with 174 strikeouts this past season.  Overall in 2012, the right-hander went 11-11 with a 4.14 ERA (84 ER/182.2 IP) over 32 starts, his first season with the Padres. Over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Texas Rangers (2005-07), Cincinnati Reds (2008-11) and Padres (2012), he has gone 44-40 with a 4.52 ERA (341 ER/679.2 IP) and 653 strikeouts against 372 walks over 126 games, 122 starts.

Thatcher, 31, went 1-4 with a 3.41 ERA (12 ER/31.2 IP) and 39 strikeouts against 14 walks over 55 relief appearances for the Padres in 2012.  Over parts of six Major League seasons, all with San Diego (2007-12), he has gone 5-10 with a 3.37 ERA (63 ER/168.1 IP) and 181 strikeouts against 65 walks over 237 outings.

Baker, 31, hit .238 (46-for-193) with eight doubles, 14 RBI and 17 runs scored in 63 games over his first campaign with the Padres this past season.  Over parts of five Major League seasons with the Miami Marlins (2008-11) and Padres (2012), he has hit .263 (225-for-854) with 50 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 103 RBI and 115 runs scored in 275 games played.

Cabrera, 26, hit .246 (98-for-398) with 19 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 24 RBI, 49 runs scored and a career-best 44 stolen bases over 115 games for the Padres in 2012.  His 44 steals led all National Leaguers this past year, becoming the first Padre in franchise history to lead the league in stolen bases.  Over parts of four Major League seasons with San Diego (2009-12), he has hit .240 (239-for-995) with 43 doubles, 14 triples, five home runs, 77 RBI, 131 runs scored and 81 stolen bases in 296 games played.

Venable, 30, hit .264 (110-for-417) with 26 doubles, eight triples, nine home runs, 45 RBI, 62 runs scored and 24 stolen bases over 148 games for the Padres this past season.  The left-handed hitter set career-highs in games, hits, doubles, triples and runs scored.  Over parts of five Major League seasons, all with San Diego (2008-12), he has hit .253 (401-for-1582) with 69 doubles, 26 triples, 45 home runs, 188 RBI, 225 runs scored and 86 stolen bases in 523 games played.

With today's agreements the Padres have three players remaining who are eligible for arbitration, including right-handed pitcher Luke Gregerson, left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard and infielder Chase Headley.

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