According to Padres.com, the Friars have inked right-handers Joe Dawley, Brian Falkenborg and Danny Patterson, and catcher Michel Hernandez to minor league deals. (Thanks to Derek in yesterday’s comments for the heads-up on this item.)

Dawley, Falkenborg, and Hernandez all have had cups of coffee. Patterson has 350 big-league relief appearances under his belt over a 9-year career with the Rangers and Tigers. According to Baseball-Reference.com, among his most similar pitchers are Jim Mecir, and former Padres Donne Wall and Brian Boehringer. Seems like a good insurance policy for Blaine Neal/Rudy Seanez.

In other news, John Sickels profiles hurler Tim Stauffer. Sickels notes Stauffer’s command, instincts, and work ethic as strengths. Sickels is concerned about some of Stauffer’s ratios at Triple-A, particularly the home run rate, and cautions against rushing him to the big leagues despite good surface numbers at Portland last year. Sickels sees him as a future #3 starter.