By Tom Krasovic
STAFF WRITER

October 9, 2008

The Padres are in the midst of creating room on their 40-man roster, not a difficult task for a club that went 63-99 this year. Yesterday, the club removed three more players – infielder Craig Stansberry and pitchers Tim Stauffer and Kevin Cameron – to bring the roster to 32, eight fewer than to start the week. All three were outrighted to Triple-A Portland after the 29 other clubs deemed them unworthy of a $20,000 waiver claim.

Next, the Padres will decide which minor leaguers to add to the 40-man roster by Nov. 20, when clubs file their reserve list. In December, unprotected roster-eligible players can be chosen by another club in the Rule V draft.

Which minor leaguers will the Padres protect? Matt Bush, drafted first overall in 2004, is among the candidates being discussed, said Grady Fuson, the club's director of scouting and development. Bush was converted from shortstop to pitcher in 2007 and worked only 7 2/3 innings before having reconstructive elbow surgery. He didn't pitch this season, but because of his clockings above 95 miles per hour in 2007, another club might draft Bush if the Padres do not add him to their 40-man roster.

Fuson said the club also is discussing whether to protect pitcher Cesar Carrillo, who was the first draft pick of the Alderson/Fuson Era and returned from reconstructive elbow surgery this year. He also mentioned outfielders Paul McAnulty and Chip Ambres and utility man Peter Ciofrone – three players who hit well in Triple-A this year. Others to talk about, Fuson said, include Double-A infielder/outfielder Mike Baxter, reliever Gabe Dehoyos and catcher Jose Lobaton; and Single-A center fielder Luis Durango and reliever Jackson Quezada.

ALCS matchups set

Daisuke Matsuzaka will be on the mound for the Red Sox against the Rays and James Shields when the ALCS begins tomorrow.

Boston ace Josh Beckett will face Scott Kazmir in Game 2 on Saturday.

Umpiring crews named

Mike Reilly was picked as the umpire crew chief for the NL Championship Series and Tim McClelland was selected as crew chief for the ALCS.

Also working the NL series will be Mike Winters, Gary Cederstrom, Jerry Meals, Ted Barrett and Mike Everitt. McClelland will be joined by Derryl Cousins, Brian Gorman, Brian O'Nora, Alfonso Marquez and Sam Holbrook.

Cubs take Harden option

Rich Harden's $7 million option for next year was exercised yesterday by the Chicago Cubs, one day after a test showed the hard-thrower had no structural damage in his pitching shoulder.

Harden, 26, who was acquired from Oakland on July 8, went a combined 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA in 25 starts for the Athletics and Cubs this season. Harden was 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA with the Cubs.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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