[1][2] On December 6, 2010, González was traded to the Boston Red Sox for a package of right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, outfielder Reymond Fuentes, and a player to be named later, later determined to be Eric Patterson.
The Padres offense started the season being shut out seven times in April, a major league record according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
[7] Bell blew his next save opportunity, a 3–0 lead, after he opened the ninth inning by walking the first two batters, and third baseman Chase Headley made a two-out, two-run throwing error to tie the game.
[12] On June 20, former Padres first baseman Adrián González went 3 for 5 with a double and 3 RBI (all in the 10-run Boston 7th inning) in his first career game against San Diego in a 14–5 Red Sox victory in Fenway Park.
In May The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that star minor league first baseman Anthony Rizzo's debut with the Padres might be delayed despite the club's hitting deficiencies due to cost considerations created by the "Super Two" exception for salary arbitration eligibility.
The Padres cited Rizzo's lack of experience above Double-A and his limited exposure to left-handed pitching as benefits of his continuing to play in Tucson.
[15] In his debut on June 9, against the Washington Nationals, Rizzo struck out in his first at bat, but then proceeded to hit a triple and score a run, helping the Padres to a 7–3 victory.
With the team 12 games under .500 coming out of the All-Star break, general manager Jed Hoyer said the Padres would pursue a long-term contract with Bell if they did not get a desirable trade offer for him.
[22][23][24] The Padres retired number 51 in honor of Trevor Hoffman's at Petco Park in a pre-game ceremony on August 21, 2011, against the Florida Marlins.
For the National Anthem, the Padres played a video of Ed singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fenway Park on Opening Day in 1981 when Trevor's brother, Glenn, was the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox.
[29][31] Following the ceremony, Bell blew a 3–2 lead against the Marlins after allowing a solo home run to Mike Cameron with two outs in the ninth.
[36] The Union-Tribune praised Maybin's defense and called his acquisition "[o]ne of the best trades in Padres history" and named him the team's MVP.
[5] The Union-Tribune also wrote that Jesús Guzmán's line-drive hitting style was perfectly suited to the Padres' home at Petco Park, and he emerged as the team's best hitter.