PITTSBURGH -- Recent published reports say the Mets and a handful of other teams are interested in Padres right fielder Brian Giles.

But is Brian Giles interested in other teams?

"Brian's a Padre," manager Bud Black said. "In all my conversations with Brian, he wants to stay here.

"He wants to be part of a Padre team that makes waves and contends and wins championships. He wants to be part of that, which he should. He's invested in our team. He cares about the Padres."

But what can a team that sits in the National League's cellar look forward to?

Possibly, the injuries to four veteran starting pitchers and two experienced catchers have something to do with the Padres' struggles. San Diego has had to play big chunks of the 2008 season without pitchers Shawn Estes, Mark Prior, Brett Tomko and Chris Young. They've also had to deal without the presence of catchers Michael Barrett and Josh Bard.

"The way our season has ended up so far, we've been in the same games we've been in the last couple years," Black said. "We just haven't found ways to win those games [this year]. If you look around this room, it's not one of those situations where it's going to take three or four years to get back to playoff status.

"With the way our division is set up and as young as it is, it's anybody's for the taking for the next two or three years."

When asked about the trade rumors, Giles simply shrugged his shoulders and said there's nothing he can do about it.

"It's one of those things where obviously it's a business and you can't control those things," he said, "so why worry about it?"