Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi signed Tuesday with the San Diego Padres for $3.85 million US.

The one-year contract contains an additional $650,000 US in performance incentives.

Taduhito Iguchi shakes hands with Padres GM Kevin Towers on Tuesday.
(Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press)

"My No. 1 priority was the atmosphere of the town," Iguchi told reporters through a translator.

"Last year, at the trading deadline, I was traded to Philadelphia and I had to live away from my family, and that was kind of hard for me. I wanted to choose a place I could live with my family and spend the off-season as well.

"I am absolutely hoping that I can stay here for many years. I'm looking at this one-year contract to better my performance."

Iguchi, 33, split last season between the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, who acquired him July 27 for pitching prospect Michael Dubee.

He hit a combined .267 with nine home runs, 43 runs batted in, 67 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in 135 games. 

"I did not get to play as well as I would have liked," Iguchi said. "I felt a shorter-term contract would give me the chance, and also the motivation, to play better and help the team win."

Iguchi will replace an ineffective Marcus Giles as San Diego's starting second baseman next season.

"It is the position I could help the team most," Iguchi said. "I understand this is a very big ballpark.

"It will give me the chance to hit more doubles and triples. I will get the opportunity to run, and play with my own style to fit into the team and help."

"We think we have a very good infield defensively and we think we've added a solid bat as well," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. "I've heard a lot of great things about his character."

Iguchi is a career .276 hitter with 42 HRs, 181 RBIs, 238 runs and 40 steals in 408 games since making his major-league debut with Chicago on April 4, 2005.

He helped the White Sox win the World Series in his rookie season. 

"Pitchers are very conscious of him when he is in the batter's box," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We always thought he was a tough out."

With files from the Associated Press