Red Sox pull fast one on penny-pinching Padres

	Mark Loretta is a career .301 career hitter, who will earn $3 million in 2006. AP

DALLAS -- It will be hard to top what the Padres did as far as worst trades of the winter. They took a backup catcher from Boston, Doug Mirabelli, for a very good everyday second baseman, Mark Loretta, and saved only about $2 million to help pay the contract of 38-year-old closer Trevor Hoffman.

And now San Diego also has no room for David Wells, who could be bound for the Dodgers.

The Padres plan to go with rookie Josh Barfield at second base and Miguel Olivo as their primary catcher. Free agent catcher Ramon Hernandez is getting strong interest from the Orioles, who would move Javy Lopez to a 1B/DH role.

The Red Sox are eager to move shortstop Edgar Renteria, but not so eager to pick up a chunk of his salary -- at least not as much as the Braves were asking in the proposed three-way deal that would have sent Julio Lugo to Boston and Andy Marte to Tampa Bay. After watching Renteria's act for a year -- scouts say he appeared out of shape when camp began and never got comfortable in Boston -- the Red Sox want a premier defender at shortstop with offense being less of a priority.

In other news from the winter meetings:

• It looks like Alfonso Soriano is headed to the Nationals. The Rangers talked to the Dodgers about Soriano, but an L.A. source said there was no fit and talks went nowhere. "They wanted us to take on salary and take away from our major league roster," the source said. The Dodgers plan to move second baseman Jeff Kent to first base when Cesar Izturis recovers midseason from elbow surgery.

• The Dodgers do have interest in third baseman Bill Mueller. GM Ned Colletti likes Mueller from their days together in San Francisco and new manager Grady Little knows Mueller well from his days in Boston.

• Los Angeles did engage in brief talks with the Phillies about Bobby Abreu. Philadelphia wants either Brad Penny or Derek Lowe in return.

• The Astros mentioned center fielder Wily Tavares to the Yankees, who were not very interested in the player and didn't see a trade fit anyway. "They're probably thinking his value is never going to be higher," one AL source said. If Roger Clemens decides to play next year, George Steinbrenner always has a spot in the Yankees' rotation for him, according to a New York source, so that he can retire as a Yankee and go into the Hall of Fame as a Yankee

• Free agent pitcher Kevin Millwood doesn't appear to be a good fit for the Orioles. Atlanta sources say Millwood clashed with former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, now with Baltimore.

• Texas continues to listen to offers for third baseman Hank Blalock, who has drawn some interest from Pittsburgh. The Pirates also are in the hunt for Mueller.