The Padres and catcher Josh Bard have agreed on a $1.05 million one-year contract and avoided arbitration, Jeff Kingston, the team's director of baseball operations, confirmed.

Bard, 28, had a breakout season in 2006 after coming to San Diego from Boston in a May 1 deal. He led the club with a .338 average, delivering nine homers and 40 RBIs in 93 games as the No. 2 catcher behind Mike Piazza. A switch-hitter, Bard batted .333 overall, having hit .278 in seven games with the Red Sox.

Bard is expected to be the Padres' No. 1 receiver in 2007 with Piazza having signed with Oakland. In support of Bard is Rob Bowen, who appeared in 94 games as the third catcher in '06. Veteran Todd Greene is another option, having signed a Minor League deal.

Bard, who began his Major League career with Cleveland in 2002, is a .270 career hitter with 22 homers and 101 RBIs in 744 at-bats. He built a strong rapport with the pitching staff in 2006 and is regarded as a solid defensive receiver across the board.

The signing of Bard leaves veteran second baseman Todd Walker as the only Padres player eligible for arbitration. Figures are to be exchanged on Wednesday. The Padres have not gone to arbitration with a player since 1998.

Walker, 33, came to the Padres at the trade deadline on July 31 and batted .282 in 44 games with three homers and 13 RBIs.

Walker is expected primarily to fill a bench role in the infield, pinch hit and serve as protection at second base. Marcus Giles was signed as a free agent to replace Josh Barfield, who was traded to Cleveland for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and pitcher Andrew Brown.