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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 11, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- Padres closer Trevor Hoffman is unlikely to be healthy by opening day.
General manager Kevin Towers said the right-hander, 35, could require a second operation on his pitching shoulder, which probably would sideline him for more than two months.
Towers said the problem isn't career-threatening, but he hoped Hoffman doesn't have to miss the whole season.
Hoffman, who's fifth on the career saves list with 352, is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in October. The four-time All-Star hasn't thrown a baseball since the operation.
Towers says if Hoffman's shoulder pain persists this month, he likely would need more intensive surgery that could put Hoffman out for the season.
Meanwhile, San Diego's City Council approved the naming rights deal to call the Padres' new ballpark PETCO Park. The pet supply company agreed last month to a naming rights deal reportedly worth more than $60-million over 22 years.
EXPOS: Right-hander Orlando Hernandez, acquired from the Yankees in a trade that sent right-hander Bartolo Colon to the White Sox, agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.1-million, avoiding arbitration. Hernandez struggled with injuries last season, going 8-5 with a 3.64 ERA and one save in 22 starts and two relief appearances.
MARLINS: Left-hander Mark Redman became the second Florida player this year to go to an arbitration hearing. Redman's lawyers argued before a three-man panel in St. Petersburg that he should get a raise from $300,000 to $2.15-million. The team argued he should be paid $1.8-million. Redman went 8-15 with a 4.21 ERA in 30 starts for Detroit last season, pitching a team-high 203 innings.
METS: Right-hander Heath Bell agreed to a one-year contract.
PHILLIES: Right-hander Terry Adams agreed to a $2.9-million, one-year contract. A starter at the start of last season, he is expected to be in the bullpen. The team also signed left-handed reliever Hector Mercado, minor-league right-hander Eric Junge and minor-league outfielder Jorge Padilla.