Padres End Talks as Raines Refuses $1.3 Million

Padre President Ballard Smith, who says he is not willing to pay free-agent outfielder Tim Raines more than $1.3 million a year, said Sunday that he has ceased negotiations with Raines’ agent, Tom Reich.

Smith spoke with Reich early Sunday morning and asked if Raines would sign for $1.3 million. Reich said no, so Smith--concerned that the up-in-the-air status of Raines was a distraction to the Padres--decided to end the talks.

About 10 days ago, Smith had been told by Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn--a friend of Raines--that Raines would be willing to sign for less than $1.5 million. Raines made $1.5 million with the Montreal Expos in 1986, but he told Gwynn that he would take a small pay cut because he especially wanted to play in San Diego.

That’s why Smith--who in January had offered Raines a two-year, $2.2-million contract--reopened negotiations with Reich last week. But Reich told him that he still feels that Raines is worth about $2 million, and then Raines changed his story and told a Cincinnati Post reporter that he would sit out the season rather than sign for less than $1.5 million.

It then became apparent to Smith that further negotiations were futile.

In a statement released by the team, Smith said Sunday: “We have no plans to make any further offers to Tim Raines. We believe that our offer of $1.1 million per year for two years is the highest outstanding offer and to bid against ourselves makes no sense.

“Tim Raines has recently indicated he will not take a pay cut from the $1.5 million he made last year. We do not believe in today’s baseball market that he is worth that sum of money.”

When Smith relayed the news to Reich Sunday morning, Reich told him: “Well, that’s your decision.”

Reich is on his way to Florida and was unavailable for comment Sunday. He is expected to begin negotiations with the Atlanta Braves this week.

Raines also was unavailable.

“I worked hard and spent a lot of time talking with Tom Reich,” Smith said Sunday in a telephone interview. “I did it (negotiations) myself because I’ve had success signing top free agents in the past. I thought we had a shot, but I came to realize that the information I had (from Gwynn) wasn’t right. Either that, or they (Reich and Raines) changed their minds.

“I made an honest effort. Remember, ours is the highest offer out there. Don’t lose sight of that. I don’t know what the 24 other teams were thinking. You can draw your own conclusions as to why they didn’t make an offer, but I think Raines wanted too much.”

Montreal reportedly offered Raines a three-year, $4.8-million contract during the winter, but Raines wanted to test the free-agent market. Besides, he told Gwynn that he did not want to return to the Expos. But on May 1, Raines will be able to re-sign with Montreal.

“But I don’t know if Montreal’s (original) offer is still good,” Smith said. “If I were Montreal, I wouldn’t pay him what they offered him before.”

Smith also said that Jack McKeon, the Padre general manager, and Larry Bowa, the Padre manager, told him they did not want the Raines negotiations dragging on.

“Larry and I both decided we’d either get him (Raines) or we wouldn’t get him, but let’s get on with business,” McKeon said. “Let’s not draw it out all spring. Let’s make an honest effort, and if it doesn’t work out, too bad. . . . You’ve got guys fighting for positions, kids who had their hopes up. We’ve got a good young club here.”

And Bowa said: “I approached the season like we were going with the guys we had.”

Gwynn was the player most involved in all this, but he was hardly surprised by Smith’s announcement.

“I’d still like to have him,” Gwynn said. “There’s only one other player like him in baseball, and that’s (New York’s Rickey) Henderson. He’s just a disruptive offensive force that any team would be happy to have. As it stands now, nobody’s gonna get him. But Timmy’s gonna get what he deserves from somebody. If not from us, from somebody else. Somebody’s gonna pay.”

Originally, Raines had told Gwynn that he wouldn’t mind signing a one-year contract worth about $1.5 million or less, and then going to arbitration before the 1988 season.

“He told me if he had to sign for less, he’d like to play,” Gwynn said. “If he had to. But he doesn’t believe he has to. And I’m sure his agent has convinced him he doesn’t have to.”

Smith said Reich could always change his mind and settle for $1.3 million.

“I wouldn’t tell you we wouldn’t listen,” Smith said. “The thing that concerns me is that the fans will be upset (about 100 fans claimed they would not renew their season tickets unless Raines was signed). But we made an effort. I’d rather make an effort and fail than never try at all.”

Padre Notes In their first exhibition game of the spring Sunday, the Padres defeated their minor league all-stars, 11-1. Left fielder Carmelo Martinez hit a two-run bloop single in the first inning and the rout was on. Catcher Benito Santiago had the only home run, a two-run shot to right-center off Mike Young in the fourth inning. First baseman Scott Parsons went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs; Santiago went 2 for 2; backup catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. went 2 for 3; and Joey Cora, Stan Jefferson, Tony Gwynn and Santiago each stole a base. Pitcher Tom Gorman got the victory and reliever Rusty Ford--who throws sidearm--retired six straight batters during one stretch. But there was an injury. Outfielder Shane Mack collided with minor league first baseman Brad Pounders and needed five stitches to close a wound above his right knee. Mack will have to wear a splint for about a week because if he bends the knee the stitches will break. . . . Left fielder John Kruk (slightly separated right shoulder) took batting practice Sunday for the first time all spring. . . . Here’s some more reaction to the Padres’ decision to cease negotiations with free-agent Tim Raines. Kruk, who would have lost his position to Raines, said: “I’d like to see him here. Now, someone in the (National League) West might sign him, and it won’t make it any easier for us.” Shortstop Garry Templeton said: “It would’ve been nice to have him (Raines) over here. All I can say is good luck to him. It (the negotiations) wasn’t a distraction. I was just hoping I’d pick up the paper one day and read that he’d signed with us.”