Gonzalez signs with Japanese Yomiuri Giants

The Yomiuri Giants in Japan have signed second baseman Edgar Gonzalez, who has spent the past two seasons with the San Diego Padres. Gonzalez is the older brother of Padres star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. While the younger Gonzalez was the first player taken overall in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft by Florida, his older brother spent eight years in the Minors with several different organizations before making his big league debut with the Padres in 2008.

Gonzalez hit .216 in 82 games for San Diego in the padres jersey in 2009. According to an Associated Press report citing the team's Japanese Web site, Gonzalez said he was very excited to play for a team with such a rich tradition.

Padres CEO has nothing to say about Gonzalez

Moorad, in an interview on the Padres' flagship radio station said that he doesn't believe general manager Jed Hoyer has spoken with Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein since the Winter Meetings concluded in Indianapolis last week. He also didn't think Hoyer and Epstein discussed Gonzalez.

Gonzalez has been the subject of trade speculation since the end of the regular season. Hoyer was an assistant general manager to Epstein in Boston before joining the Padres in October in trade discussions for the two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner. Moorad said "If it's something that would dramatically improve our ballclub, we'd be silly not to listen. Does that mean other teams don't ask about him? Of course not. We're going to listen." "Jed has money to spend, not a lot, but money to spend," Moorad said. Well can Gonzalez put on the padres jersey successfully?