Mat Latos News

As the San Diego Padres approach the Winter Meetings under new owner Jeff Moorad and new general manager Jed Hoyer, there are decisions that this team will need to make to shape the 2010 squad.

Do you see the Padres keeping pitcher Kevin Correia? Or do you think the Padres are staying away from him because of what they did with Kevin Jarvis in the past? -- Chris S., San Diego Well, Chris, I think the Padres are hoping for a better return than what Jarvis gave them over three seasons .

Kyle Drabek, the son of former NL Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, has seen his name pop up in trade rumors quite a bit in recent months.

New San Diego Padres general manager Jed Hoyer has inherited a valuable trade chip in All-Star closer Heath Bell.

The San Diego Padre fans are done losing, they're done with empty promises that have yet to be fulfilled.

When rookie left-handed pitcher Cesar Ramos got his first Major League start in the final weeks of the regular season, he became the 15th different starting pitcher for the Padres in 2009.

Fuson out as soon as Hoyer's in By Bill Center 8:34 p.m. October 26, 2009 SAN DIEGO a ' The executive responsible for drafting and developing many of the young players involved in the Padres' late-season resurgence this year is apparently one of the first victims of the franchise's change in leadership.

Hank Conger, c, Arkansas 11. Kasey Kiker, lhp, Frisco 12. Lance Lynn, rhp, Springfield 13.

Quite fittingly, the Padres' season ended four days into October. Fitting, because there was nothing September-ish about the 2009 Padres.

It's probably only fitting that the Padres will run a rookie pitcher out to the mound Sunday in the season finale against the Giants at PETCO Park.

They used 15 different starting pitchers, traded away a Cy Young Award winner and made a notable second-half push with an active roster of players who made a combined $26 million, many of whom started the season in the Minor Leagues.

There is hope in San Diego, something that wasn't apparent a year ago at this time, on the heels of a 99-loss season.

The Padres apparently are prepared to part ways with general manager Kevin Towers, who has been the Padres' general manager since 1996.

It's been nearly a month now since Padres rookie pitcher Mat Latos has thrown a pitch in a game, a fact the restless 21-year-old doesn't need to be reminded of any time soon.

Ramos to start Sunday : Cesar Ramos has earned a second start to end the 2009 season off his strong outing against the Dodgers on Tuesday night.

The Padres won't tinker with their starting rotation over the final 10 games of the regular season while resisting the attraction to look at several young pitchers in a starting capacity over that stretch.

" He's so very understated that, well, so are his accomplishments. There may be more numbers and drama attached to the work of Heath Bell, more sizzle to the set-up work of strikeout artists Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson, more excitement generated by the early arrival and energy of young phenom Mat Latos.

It was in August, after a walk-off victory by the Padres over the Mets, when a handful of Latino players huddled in one corner of the Padres' clubhouse and began to giggle uncontrollably.

Padres pitcher Heath Bell reacts after giving up a three-run double to Colorado's Yorvit Torrealba during the ninth inning Friday in San Diego.

Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres Sept. 16, 2009 12:35 PM azcentral.com When: 12:35 p.m. Where: Petco Park, San Diego Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Doug Davis vs.