Padres agree to terms with INF Mark Loretta

Monday December 16, 2002

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The San Diego Padres agreed to terms with free-agent second baseman Mark Loretta on a one-year, $1.25 million contract.

Loretta is a .293 career hitter with 31 home runs and 280 RBIs in parts of eight major league seasons with Milwaukee and Houston. He batted .304 with four home runs and 27 RBIs last season, when he was sent from the Brewers to the Astros at the Aug. 31 trade deadline.

In 1998, his best season, Loretta hit .316 with six home runs and 54 RBIs in 140 games for the Brewers.

Loretta, 31, played every position in the infield during his time with Milwaukee.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)