SAN DIEGO • Not too far from his new locker with the San Diego Padres is an old role for reliever Carlos Villanueva. There, just a few strides away, is another young pitcher, just finding his way in the majors, whom Villanueva is helping to mentor just as he did for Carlos Martinez a year ago.
Villanueva called his charge “my Martinez this year.”
If so, Luis Perdomo is the one that got away from the Cardinals.
In a Padres clubhouse chocked with former Cardinals – from bench coach Mark McGwire to center fielder Jon Jay to former first-rounder Brett Wallace – it’s Perdomo who is different.