PEORIA, Ariz. -- National pastime? Maybe, but the Padres continue to show an interest in expanding their search for talent beyond the borders of the United States.

The Padres on Tuesday announced that they have established a working agreement with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League.

In April, the Padres will open their baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, which will give them a greater presence in Latin America.

As for the partnership with the Fighters, Padres general manager Kevin Towers said the agreement is important in that it will allow them far better access to scouting reports on potential players.

"I think because of the distance, it can be difficult to have the wherewithal to spend a lot of time over there watching their industrial-league, passed-over players in their draft that might be available to be signed," Towers said.

"And by having a presence over there, we have access to scouting information for players who might become posted or become free agents. ... A lot of Asian players have impacted our game, not just solid players but good players."

This is the Padres' second partnership with a team in Japan. In the mid '90s, the Padres had a similar agreement with Seibu that eventually led to the signing of pitcher Hideki Irabu, a signing that eventually led to the current posting system in place for Japanese players who wished to play in the Major Leagues.

When Irabu said he only would play for the Yankees, the Padres eventually traded him to New York.

Towers said the agreement with the Fighters will also be beneficial to them as well.

"They rely heavily on import players. They'll have access to our scouting information to help them make wiser decisions of who they bring over there," he said.

Former Padres pitcher Brian Sweeney and outfielder Terrmel Sledge -- who was on the Padres' Opening Day roster in 2007 -- are members of the Fighters.

"They have had a lot of success in recent years -- it's a similar market like ours. They're not the big-spending clubs like the Yomiuri Giants," Towers said. "So they have to do a good job acquitting talent in the U.S. They're a very progressive organization that's not afraid to try some new things. Hopefully this will benefit us both."

The Fighters were Japan Series champion in 2006 and won the Pacific League title last year before losing in five games to the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Series. It was the Dragons who owned the rights to outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who chose the Cubs over the Padres in the offseason.

Peavy and Oswalt: San Diego's Jake Peavy and Houston's Roy Oswalt figure to start for their respective teams in the March 31 season opener at PETCO Park. The two are hardly strangers, though.

Oswalt and Peavy struck up a friendship after meeting at the All-Star Game a few years ago. When the 2008 schedules were released, revealing the Astros and Padres will open the season at PETCO Park, the two buddies began a steady barrage of well-intentioned trash talking.

"It's going to be great," Oswalt said of facing his friend. "We've got a little wager, who's going to get a hit off who."

Despite the friendship between the two ace pitchers -- they hunt together during the offseason -- Oswalt emphasized a baseball diamond is no place to exchange handshakes and backslaps with opposing players.

"It's so funny because once you get on the field, it's business," he said. "You don't really see a friend side of it. It's more business than anything. He's trying to win and I'm trying to win and after the game, we'll be friends again. But during the game, it's one against the other."

Praise for Maddux: San Diego manager Bud Back was asked Wednesday what he expected from 41-year-old pitcher Greg Maddux this season. Black didn't really offer up anything different than he expects from anyone else in his rotation.

But when asked what makes Maddux -- the 347-game winner and certain Hall of Famer -- so unique, Black said this:

"He was born to throw," he said. "He's very athletic. He's got a great feel for his body."

Friars notes: The saga of pitcher Enrique Gonzalez continues. Gonzalez, who was expected in camp Wednesday, won't likely arrive in Peoria until sometime this weekend, according to Towers. Visa issues have prevented Gonzalez from leaving his native Venezuela. ... Pitcher Mike Megrew, a non-roster invitee, came down with some "discomfort in his elbow," Black said. "He's going to be down a few days. ... They're going to have some tests." ... The Padres' first full-squad workout is Thursday. ... More on the China trip: Among the Padres regulars who will make the trip are Kevin Kouzmanoff, Adrian Gonzalez, Trevor Hoffman and Heath Bell. No regular pitcher in the rotation will go, so some lucky Minor League pitchers are going to get the trip of a lifetime. ... Former Padre Ben Davis, out of the Major Leagues since 2004, is trying to win the backup catching job in Baltimore.