SAN DIEGO -- A year ago, the Padres loaded up on players through free agency -- Mark Prior, Randy Wolf, Tadahito Iguchi and Tony Clark, to name a few -- during what qualified as a busy offseason for the team.

This offseason figures to be plenty busy as well for general manager Kevin Towers, especially given the Padres' woes in 2008, when they lost 99 games, falling well short of the expectations that followed two postseason trips in the previous three seasons.

But unlike last winter, the Padres won't rebuild their roster through free agency. Instead, they'll be active on the trade front, as Towers let it be known a day after the 2008 regular season ended that new faces for 2009 will likely come via trades.

One of the reasons the Padres won't be nearly as active in free agency as they have been in the past is because the team will have a lower payroll in 2009 than last season ($73.6 million). No one has said publicly what that figure will be, though it could be closer to $50 million, and perhaps even lower, according to a team source.

The Padres also have a better in-house inventory of players than they have in the past, a credit to improved efforts to stockpile the farm system and Towers' reluctance to move any of those young players, like catcher Nick Hundley and outfielder Chase Headley, last year.

The Padres only had two players file for free agency: closer Trevor Hoffman and Prior, who didn't throw a single pitch for the Padres last season while first recovering from his right shoulder surgery in 2006, and later after having another surgery in June.

Prior, who through his agent, John Boggs, expressed interest in re-signing with the Padres, would likely only do so on a Minor League contract, Towers said.

Hoffman, who turned 41 last month, wants to return to pitch another season. Towers had said all along that he wants the Major League career saves leader (554 saves) to return. But the two sides have yet to settle on a contract.

Hoffman made $7.5 million last season, though it has been reported the team offered him a deal for 2009 worth $4 million with a club option for 2010.

"I talked to [his agents] about a week ago, but we're trying to keep that one as confidential as we can because of who he is," Towers said. "He did elect for free agency. I think there's a desire on both sides to work something out. I can't tell you when that's going to happen. My hope is that he comes back."

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Outfielder Brian Giles, whose $9 million option for 2009 was picked up on Friday, is set to return.

If the Padres do pursue any free agents, they will likely be relief pitchers to help a bullpen that struggled in 2008 to the tune of 26 blown saves and an ERA of 4.41, just one season after that same bullpen had the best ERA in the Major Leagues (3.06).

Just don't expect big-ticket relievers like Jeremy Affeldt to land in San Diego. Towers has developed a reputation of finding bullpen gems from other organizations without overspending.

The Padres would also like to add some help to the bench to give manager Bud Black more late-game options, as well as a veteran catcher like Brad Ausmus, who makes his home near San Diego. The club hopes an experienced catcher would be able to spell and mentor Hundley, who impressed the Padres with the way he handled himself, especially defensively.