Orioles Believed to Be Offering Ford for Wiggins

National League President Charles (Chub) Feeney ordered San Diego Padres President Ballard Smith on Thursday to either trade second baseman Alan Wiggins or have Wiggins begin rehabilitation workouts here today.

As of Thursday evening, the Padres still had not traded Wiggins, although Baltimore Orioles General Manager Hank Peters said at 11:30 p.m. EDT that the Orioles had made an offer for Wiggins and that “it’s really in their (the Padres’) court.”

It is believed that the Orioles offered outfielder Dan Ford because Padre General Manager Jack McKeon said: “They made me an offer today, yeah. The guy’s on the disabled list. We’re not interested in that, no. Would you be? That’s like adding another person to your roster who can’t play.”

The only players on the Oriole disabled list are Ford and left-handed pitcher Mike Flanagan, and since the Orioles have an abundance of outfielders and have said they would trade one, Ford, 33, is almost certainly the player offered to San Diego.

However, neither Peters nor McKeon would confirm it.

Smith, who said Wiggins will never again play for the Padres, would not comment on Feeney’s conversation, but two sources close to Wiggins said it did happen. And Eugene Orza, associate general counsel of baseball’s player’s association, confirmed it.

Said Orza: “That is my understanding, yes.”

Feeney did not return phone messages Thursday evening.

Smith, when asked if he would let Wiggins work out today, said: “With whom? The Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

Actually, a large group of Jehovah’s Witnesses have gathered at San Diego/Jack Murphy Stadium for a religious meeting.

Said Smith: “There’s nothing to stop him from working out, but who’s supposed to be with him? The club is in San Francisco. And he’s not going to go with the club, no. There’s nobody (to work out with).”