Padres - Signed Iguchi

San Diego Padres - Signed 2B Tadahito Iguchi to a 1-year, $4 million contract.

Padres sure got a better deal than the Astros got. The team wants to give Antonelli more time in the minors and with Chase Headley gone from the position, apparently now an outfielder, and possibly gone from the team based on some rumors over the last month, the Friars wanted a stopgap 2B for a year and Iguchi serves the bill. Didn't quite work out the last time they tried this, with Marcus Giles last season, but maybe second time's the charm. I had always pictured the Gooch as being bigger, based on what he did to Todd Bridges.

2008 ZiPS Projection - Tadahito Iguchi
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              AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI  BB  SO  SB    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS+
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Projection   475  63  123  21  3   8  48  55 105   9  .259  .339  .369    91
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Opt. (15%)   502  77  139  29  4  11  64  65 105  12  .276  .364  .417   110  
Pes. (15%)   344  38   80  14  1   4  31  33  88   3  .233  .302  .314    67 
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Top Comps:  Bernie Friberg, Connie Ryan