Infielder Todd Walker traded from Cubs to Padres to help at third base
August 1, 2006
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres acquired Todd Walker from the Chicago Cubs on Monday to help out at third base, which has been a weak link offensively for the defending NL West champions.
The Padres also got $350,000 in the deal and sent minor league right-hander Jose Ceda to the Cubs.
Mark Bellhorn is still expected to get playing time at third base for the Padres, who released slumping Vinny Castilla on July 19.
Walker won a three-way battle in spring training for the Cubs’ second base job, but played first while Derrek Lee was out for two months.
“Yeah, he’s going to get playing time at third,” said manager Bruce Bochy, whose Padres have lost seven of their last 12 games and lead the NL West by 1 1/2 games over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres were off Monday while the Diamondbacks played the Cubs Monday night.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Bochy said Walker can also spell rookie Josh Barfield at second base and come off the bench.
The Padres had been searching for a third baseman since the All-Star break, a process that intensified after they released Castilla.
Although Castilla’s defense was solid, the 39-year-old was hitting just .232 with four homers and 23 RBIs.
In Walker, the Padres get a player who hits well but can be shaky afield.
The 33-year-old Walker is batting .277 with a .352 on-base percentage, six homers, 16 doubles and 40 RBIs. He led the Cubs with 38 walks this season and had 25 multi-hit games.
“He’s a good hitter,” Bochy said. “We’ve always liked the way he plays and we look forward to having him on this club. He’s a professional hitter who knows what he’s doing out there.”
Walker has seven errors this year, and the Cubs were never crazy about his fielding. He committed two errors against New York on July 16 that led to an 11-run inning for the Mets.
The Padres are 5-7 since releasing Castilla, including going 5-6 on a road trip against division rivals San Francisco, Los Angeles and Colorado that ended Sunday.
San Diego will have to make a corresponding roster move on Tuesday before playing the Houston Astros.
