Padres avoided arbitration with LHP Joe Thatcher by agreeing to a one-year, $1.35 million contract. It was Thatcher's second year of arbitration eligibility. When healthy, the southpaw has been terrific for the Padres since 2009, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.9 K/9 rate. He's coming off of arthroscopic surgery on his right knee but is expected to be fine for spring training.