XX Sports Radio: Josh Byrnes Interview with Darren Smith (MP3)

• Byrnes made the decision to release Orlando Hudson a week or two ago. With the acquisition of Alexi Amarista and the transition of Jedd Gyorko to AAA it felt like it was time to do it.
• These moves were to make the team better today and for the future. The Padres need the middle infield players to hit.
• Byrnes says it was a difficult personal decision to release Hudson. He traded for him when he was a GM in Arizona. He wasn't a good fit here. Byrnes wishes him nothing but the best. If Hudson's performance was better you wouldn't hear about clubhouse problems, this is a performance business. "Unfortunately for O-Dog his performance wasn't doing the job for us."
• Byrnes talked to John Moores and Tom Garfinkel to get their approval for big moves like these. Owners are usually more willing to move on than baseball people who are more stubborn.
  
• Jason Bartlett's injury is more of an on going issue. "I don't know if it's gotten much worse but it hasn't gotten much better." They let Bartlett know that they couldn't assure him of a job when he gets back.
• Alexi Amarista is a "smaller guy". He can hit and he's always hit for average. He doesn't strike out much. He can play defense. He also has versatility.
• Byrnes says they like both players they got back for Ernesto Frieri from the Angels.
  
• Byrnes says he thinks Carlos Quentin is feeling better. They need his power and his hard nosed style. They'll ease him into an every day job once he gets healthy.