SAN DIEGO — It’s Phil Plantier’s turn to try to succeed in the least-stable job on the San Diego Padres’ coaching staff.

New Padres general manager Josh Byrnes confirmed Monday that Planter, a former big leaguer known for his pronounced crouch at the plate, has been hired as hitting coach.

The team expects to make the formal announcement this week, possibly on Tuesday.

Plantier will be the sixth person to hold the job since the Padres moved into cavernous Petco Park in 2004. By comparison, the Padres have had just two managers since then, and three general managers.

Plantier replaces Randy Ready, who was fired a day after the Padres finished last in the NL West at 71-91. The other Padres hitting coaches during the team’s time at Petco Park have been Dave Magadan, Merv Rettenmund, Wally Joyner and Jim Lefebvre. All were fired except Joyner, who resigned late in the 2008 season, before he could be fired.

Plantier had three stints with the Padres in the 1990s. He also played for Boston, Houston, Oakland and St. Louis.

“He has a pretty good chance to impact it,” Byrnes said.

Byrnes said Plantier knows what he’s getting into.

“He does. He’s a local guy who played here. Again, a no-excuses type of guy. Understands that young guys coming from our system are part of the program and we’ve got to figure out a way to finish off the teaching up here,’ ‘ Byrnes said.

Byrnes was introduced as the Padres’ new GM on Monday. He says the process of hiring Plantier was started by his predecessor, Jed Hoyer, who left for the same job with the Chicago Cubs, and manager Bud Black.

Plantier was a career .243 hitter in parts of eight big league seasons. He had 34 homers and 100 RBIs with the Padres in 1993. On Dec. 28, 1994, he was dealt to Houston as part of a 12-player trade that brought Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley to San Diego.

The Padres plan to bring in a second hitting coach. That coach won’t be able to be in the dugout during games.

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SAN DIEGO (AP)—It’s Phil Plantier’s turn to try to succeed in the
least-stable job on the San Diego Padres’ coaching staff.

New Padres general manager Josh Byrnes confirmed Monday that Planter, a
former big leaguer known for his pronounced crouch at the plate, has been hired
as hitting coach.

The team expects to make the formal announcement this week, possibly on
Tuesday.

Plantier will be the sixth person to hold the job since the Padres moved
into cavernous Petco Park in 2004. By comparison, the Padres have had just two
managers since then, and three general managers.

Plantier replaces Randy Ready, who was fired a day after the Padres finished
last in the NL West at 71-91. The other Padres hitting coaches during the team’s
time at Petco Park have been Dave Magadan, Merv Rettenmund, Wally Joyner and Jim
Lefebvre. All were fired except Joyner, who resigned late in the 2008 season,
before he could be fired.

Plantier had three stints with the Padres in the 1990s. He also played for
Boston, Houston, Oakland and St. Louis.

“He has a pretty good chance to impact it,” Byrnes said.

Byrnes said Plantier knows what he’s getting into.

“He does. He’s a local guy who played here. Again, a no-excuses type of
guy. Understands that young guys coming from our system are part of the program
and we’ve got to figure out a way to finish off the teaching up here,’ ’ Byrnes
said.

Byrnes was introduced as the Padres’ new GM on Monday. He says the process
of hiring Plantier was started by his predecessor, Jed Hoyer, who left for the
same job with the Chicago Cubs, and manager Bud Black.

Plantier was a career .243 hitter in parts of eight big league seasons. He
had 34 homers and 100 RBIs with the Padres in 1993. On Dec. 28, 1994, he was
dealt to Houston as part of a 12-player trade that brought Ken Caminiti and
Steve Finley to San Diego.

The Padres plan to bring in a second hitting coach. That coach won’t be able
to be in the dugout during games.

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 31 (UPI) — Josh Byrnes was promoted to executive vice president and general manager of the San Diego Padres Monday.

Byrnes had been the National League club’s senior vice president of baseball operations since December. He succeeds Jed Hoyer, who became general manager of the Chicago Cubs last week.

“Josh is one of the most respected and credentialed baseball executives in the game,” said Jeff Moorad, the Padres’ vice chairman and chief executive officer. “His proven record and extensive background in scouting and player development make a great fit for continuing the same focus that we’ve had for two years.”

Byrnes previously worked in the front offices of the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) – The San Diego Padres have declined options
for next season on right-handed pitcher Aaron Harang, infielder/outfielder
Brad Hawpe and right-handed reliever Chad Qualls, the club announced Monday.

Harang, 33, went 14-7 with a career-best 3.64 ERA in 28 starts with the Padres
this past season, his first with the club. A 10-year MLB veteran, Harang has
also spent time with the Athletics and Reds.

The 32-year-old Hawpe hit .231 in 62 games with the Padres in 2011 before
undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in June. He has also spent time
with the Rockies and Rays during his eight-year career.

Qualls led San Diego with 77 relief appearances this past season, his most
since making 77 appearances as a member of the Diamondbacks in 2008. The 33-
year-old went 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA and 43 strikeouts against 20 walks in 2011.
He has posted a 3.78 ERA over eight MLB season with the Astros, Diamondbacks,
Rays and Padres.

The Sports Network

Read More: Michael Wuertz (P – OAK), Cedric Hunter (CF – OAK), Evan Scribner (P – OAK), San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics disappeared off the radar over the last month with playoffs going on, but they have remained busy in recent days. Earlier this past week, the A’s released relief pitcher Michael Wuertz and claimed RHP Evan Scribner and OF Cedric Hunter off waivers from the San Diego Padres.

The A’s held a 2012 team option for Wuertz that would have cost them $3.25 million. After a dominant 2009 season, Wuertz struggled in 2010 and was even worse in 2011, finishing this past season with a 6.68 earned run average and 1.87 WHIP in just over 33 innings. Wuertz has spent quite a bit of time on the disabled list the last two seasons and the A’s cannot afford to tied down that kind of money on another injury-prone player.

Evan Scribner and Cedric Hunter both spent some time in the big leagues, but were with the Triple-A Tuscon Padres. Coincidentally enough, both suffered season-ending injuries within a week of each other in July. Assistant GM David Forst indicated that Hunter is 100% healthy and Scribner was on track to be ready for spring training.

For more on the A’s, check out Athletics Nation.