INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – If the Rangers want to make a trade for an established big-league pitcher, it's out there for them.

Two major league sources said Wednesday the Rangers and San Diego Padres have had multiple discussions about 29-year-old right-hander Adam Eaton. The Padres, who need catching, are believed to be focusing their interests on a package centered around catcher Gerald Laird.

For a trade to get done, the Rangers would probably have to include a second player as well. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez, a San Diego native, could also be of interest to the Padres, as could outfielder Laynce Nix.

Rangers GM Jon Daniels declined to discuss specific players but has maintained throughout the week that several teams have shown interest in Rangers hitters. He has also said he believes the Rangers can improve their pitching staff via trade.

"There are a lot of moving parts out there," said Daniels, who has also discussed outfielders Kevin Mench and Nix, Gonzalez, second baseman Alfonso Soriano and minor league shortstop Joaquin Arias with other clubs. "We want to improve our club, but we also know we've got a great nucleus of young players."

Eaton, who was 11-5 last season while calling pitcher-friendly Petco Park home, is more experienced than other pitchers the Rangers have discussed. Kansas City is willing to deal lefty Jeremy Affeldt, and Toronto may be willing to talk about Brandon League, but neither has made the 131 career starts that Eaton has made.

There are significant risks involved with acquiring Eaton, but every pitcher available via trade comes with risks.

Eaton is entering his last season of salary-arbitration eligibility and will probably command between $4 million and $5 million. The Rangers could potentially only control him for 2006.

Eaton is also injury-prone. He missed seven weeks this season with a strained middle finger on his pitching hand. He has been on the disabled list five times since 2001. As a result, he's never pitched 200 innings in a season.

LENNY IGNELZI/AP

Adam Eaton, 29, went 11-5 last season but is injury-prone and entering his final season of salary-arbitration eligibility.

In addition, there is the question of how effective Eaton would be moving from the most extreme pitcher-friendly park in the NL to the most extreme hitter-friendly park in the AL. Last year, Eaton was 8-1 with a 3.46 ERA at Petco Park, but only 3-4 with a 5.09 ERA on the road. For his career, Eaton has a 1.08 ground ball-to-fly-ball ratio, which is another danger sign. Fly balls at Ameriquest Field in Arlington often turn into extra-base hits.

"There is a park factor and a league factor involved with anybody we look at," Daniels said. "But a good pitcher is going to be a good pitcher in any league."

Briefly: Daniels had a lengthy meeting with Darek Braunecker, the agent for top free agent RHP A.J. Burnett, on Tuesday evening. The sides discussed having Burnett visit Texas but have not yet scheduled anything. ... There is still no resolution on GM John Hart's potential involvement with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rangers officials have maintained for a week that Hart is not interested in the Dodgers' GM job, but Dodgers officials have said he is. Hart has not responded to multiple requests for clarification. ... The Rangers have signed RHP Rick Bauer and OF Adrian Brown to minor league contracts with invitations to major league spring training. Bauer, 28, is 8-13 with a 4.58 ERA. Brown, 31, spent last season in the Kansas City organization. He has not appeared in the majors since 2004.

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