Padres know it's time to win, or else

SAN DIEGO — The message has reached the San Diego Padres' clubhouse loud and clear:

Win. Or else.

"We're the Cleveland Indians in the movie 'Major League,' " closer Heath Bell said.

Second base David Eckstein nodded and laughed when asked about comparisons with the fictionalized version of the Indians, who had to win a division title to avoid a move to Miami.

"That has been going around, yes," Eckstein said.

"We know we need to win if we want to keep these guys here."

While the weak-hitting Padres aren't facing the threat of relocation, some of their high-profile players could be sent elsewhere to cut payroll and restock the farm system if they don't start winning soon.

The Padres, who open a two-game series at Dodger Stadium tonight, have lost seven of their last 10 games and are 11 games out of first place.

Already, the Padres have reduced player salaries from $78 million last year to $46 million this year.

And they continue to make substantial efforts to move their most prized asset, ace Jake Peavy, who at the end of the season will still have at least $52 million remaining on his contract.

Yet amid the cost-cutting and never-ending rumors that Peavy is on his way out of town, glimmers of hope have emerged.

First baseman Adrian Gonzalez's 22 home runs lead the majors. The same with Bell's 17 saves.

The Padres also have the longest winning streak in baseball this year, a 10-game tear from May 15 to 25.

"Exceeded my expectations so far," General Manager Kevin Towers said.

Then again, Towers added, "I don't really know what my expectations are to this day because I don't know who we really are."

Nor does Towers know what his team will look like in September.

He said he would determine by the end of the month whether his team will be a buyer or a seller leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.

For the Padres to be buyers, Towers said, they would have to have at least a .500 record.

But win or lose, retaining Peavy might not be an option.

"It's going to be difficult to compete year in and year out when one player is making a quarter of your payroll," Towers said.

Peavy has a say in the matter, which is why he remains in San Diego. He invoked his no-trade clause last month to block a deal to the Chicago White Sox, who offered the Padres four prospects in return.