"Born and raised," Correia said.

This proved to be of utmost importance for the 28-year-old right-hander when he went looking for a team after not being offered a contract by San Francisco after last season.

Correia turned down potentially more lucrative deals to sign a Minor League contract, one with no guarantees other than incentives if he made the team, to sign with the one team he followed growing up in El Cajon, Calif.

"It was my dream growing up to play for my hometown team. This was a team I rooted for as a kid. A lot of my heroes were on that team," Correia said. "It has always been a team I've followed even while playing with the Giants."

After a lost 2008 season with the Giants that included, really, the first serious injury of his career -- a left oblique muscle strain -- Correia is hoping to land a spot in the starting rotation in San Diego.

"I like the arm. I like the arm slot that it's a little higher. We've seen a good slider and I like the delivery," Padres manager Bud Black said. "You look at his career and he got to the big leagues quick. Hopefully he's at the point in his career where he can settle in and make a significant contribution to a pitching staff."

On paper, Correia certainly stands a good chance. The Padres are looking to fill the last two spots in the starting rotation behind Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Cha Seung Baek. None of the candidates in camp can boast a resume like his as well.

Correia has a career record of 14-22 and a 4.59 ERA in 170 career appearances the last six seasons. His best season was in 2007 when Correia went 4-7 with a 3.45 ERA in 46 games.

Last season, Correia was part of the Giants rotation but suffered the oblique injury in a start on April 26. He went on the disabled list and didn't return until June 15. Correia struggled with his consistency the rest of the way, finishing 3-8 with a 6.05 ERA.

"I felt like I had some good years and was right where I thought I needed to be and then something would happen and I would take a step back," Correia said. "Last year I had the first injury of my career, so I had to deal with that.

"I just felt like it was time to move on. I was spinning my wheels. I wasn't getting to the level where I wanted to be."

Correia makes no bones about his preference: He wants to be a starter and has landed in what might be a perfect spot to do so, given the openings in the rotation. And if Correia can make the team, it would complete his dream of playing for his hometown team.

"My senior year in high school [1998] was when the Padres played in the World Series and I remember [Trevor] Hoffman coming in to save the game at Qualcomm," Correia said. "That's the loudest I've ever heard a stadium. Watching Tony Gwynn and all the guys ... I learned baseball from watching the Padres."