Padre Kruk Has Minor Surgery on Injured Knee

The Padres announced Friday that first baseman John Kruk, who recently injured his knee jogging in Keyser, W. Va., had undergone an arthroscopic examination at Scripps Clinic Thursday. The tests showed no damage, and Kruk should be ready for spring training.

“Doctors said there was only a little rough spot in there, but nothing serious,” Manager Jack McKeon said. “He just irritated it.”

Also Thursday, the figures were disclosed in the Walt Terrell arbitration case. The new Padre pitcher is asking for $895,000 and the Padres are offering $775,000. Terrell made $665,000 last season. The only other Padre to declare arbitration is Dickie Thon, who also has demanded a trade and will likely be accommodated, probably to Philadelphia for a prospect, before a February hearing.

The Padres have signed backup catcher Mark Parent to a 1-year contract. They also have signed Waterloo, Iowa, to a player development contract. The Waterloo Diamonds in the Class A Midwest League will become the Padres’ seventh minor league franchise, second in all of baseball to the Atlanta Braves, who have eight.

If nothing else, this co-op team will be the most unusual Padre affiliate. It will feature some players from the Baltimore Orioles organization and the Yakult Swallows of Japan.