Teufel Expected to Reject Padres’ Offer of Arbitration : Baseball: That decision would limit time frame in which team must work to sign free-agent infielder.

The Padres, abused Wednesday on the airwaves by angry fans threatening to cancel their season tickets, now could be on the verge of further aggravating their players.

Only 24 hours after the Padres announced they would not pursue outfielder Danny Tartabull in the free-agent market because of financial restrictions, they now could lose free-agent infielder Tim Teufel.

Teufel, popular in the Padre clubhouse, is expected to reject the team’s offer of arbitration today, leaving the club only three weeks to sign or lose him. The Padres must sign Teufel by Jan. 8 or lose his rights until May 1.

“There’s a 99.9-percent probability he’ll reject it,” said Tony Attanasio, Teufel’s agent. “I’d be shocked otherwise. Teufel is not going to be stampeded in these negotiations, I’ll tell you that.”

The Padres have offered Teufel a two-year contract, according to sources, that will pay him considerably less than $2 million. Teufel is seeking a three-year deal in excess of $3 million.

Teufel, who batted .228 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs last season after being traded May 31 to the Padres from the New York Mets, suddenly has become invaluable to the Padre infield. Since the departure of Bip Roberts, the Padres are left without a starting second baseman or third baseman, a void Teufel is expected to help fill.

The Padres still are attempting to shore up their roster. They continue to talk with a variety of teams, including the Houston Astros about second baseman Casey Candaele, the Kansas City Royals about catcher Brent Mayne, and the Boston Red Sox about center fielder Ellis Burks, first baseman Carlos Quintana and third baseman Scott Cooper.