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SAN DIEGO -- First there were the Alomars, then the Gwynns, and now the San Diego Padres have the Giles brothers.

Marcus Giles

Second Base San Diego Padres Profile

2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R OBP AVG 141 11 60 87 .341 .262

At the very least, the Padres should be a livelier bunch with the addition of second baseman Marcus Giles, who was reunited Wednesday with his older brother Brian on their hometown team.

Working out a deal with the Padres was a no-brainer once Marcus Giles wasn't offered a contract last week by the Atlanta Braves. He got a one-year deal worth $3.75 million, with a club option for 2008.

He'll take over at second for Josh Barfield, who was traded to Cleveland, and is the leading candidate to replace Dave Roberts as the team's leadoff batter. Roberts signed with San Francisco.

The acquisition also moves the Padres' clubhouse a step closer toward Animal House.

"They are free-spirited," general manager Kevin Towers said of the Giles brothers. "They like to have a good time, but when it comes gametime, these guys are very fierce competitors and want to win."

The Giles brothers grew up in El Cajon, just east of San Diego. Brian, the Padres' right-fielder, is seven years older than Marcus.

Asked if they've ever played together, Brian said: "Just softball."

To which little brother replied: "I won't be as difficult, I promise."

Brian Giles graduated from Granite Hills High in 1989 and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians.

"He's 12, I'm 19 and I'm gone," Brian Giles said. "We've been apart a long time. I think it's pretty amazing that we're as close as we are. It shows the bond we have. It's going to be fun to get to hang out with him for a full year."

Brian Giles is the Padres' clubhouse prankster with a wicked sense of humor.

Asked what his family thought of the brotherly reunion, Brian said: "The first thing my mother was saying was, 'Oh gosh, you guys get to shower again together."'

"I tried to get him not to say that," Marcus said. "Man, that was a long time ago.

"The clubhouse will definitely be fun," the younger Giles added. "But that's what you need in here anyway. You need to have fun in this game. The season's way too long to take every second as every second, you've got to take it as a whole. The more we have fun inside there, the looser we will be on the field, and our performance will show from that."

Towers said Marcus Giles is like his brother in the way they play the game.

"I think they're a competitive bunch. I think these two will push one another," Towers said.

"In my short time in the major leagues, I haven't been taken out harder at second base during a double play than by him, about three different times," Marcus Giles said of his brother. "I guess that just goes to show you how much he's out there to win. I guess I'm the same way. He's just lucky he's not playing second."

Brian Giles remembers knocking his little brother head-over-heels at second base once.

"He gets up and says, 'That's two,'" Brian Giles said. "He did turn the double play."

In 2003, his first full season as a starter, Marcus Giles was selected as the starting second baseman for the NL All-Star team but was unable to play due to injury. He wound up hitting a career-best .316 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs -- all career highs.

Marcus Giles, 28, has been plagued by injuries and was clearly uncomfortable when the Braves moved him into the leadoff spot for 2006, seeking a replacement for Rafael Furcal. The second baseman slumped to .262 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 10 stolen bases, his disappointing season coinciding with the end of Atlanta's record streak of 14 straight division titles.

"He has to prove he can stay healthy," Brian Giles said. "When he's healthy, he's one of the best second basemen in the game."

The two-time defending NL West champion Padres hope Marcus Giles can do some damage with the bat and perk up an offense that disappeared in the playoffs.

"What I like about him is he's capable of hitting a home run, a double, stealing a base, drawing a walk," new manager Bud Black said. "He's a complete player."

Roberto Alomar and his brother, Sandy Jr., played briefly together with the Padres in 1988 and 1989. Chris Gwynn played with brother Tony during the 1996 season.

Marcus Giles will have a salary of $3.25 million in 2007 and can earn another $1 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. His 2008 salary would be $4 million, with a $500,000 buyout.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press