Padres Meet With Horner, Also May Consider Dawson

The Padres, looking to boost their chances to win a pennant next season, are not only interested in signing free agent Tim Raines, but also Bob Horner and perhaps Andre Dawson.

Ballard Smith, Padre president, met with Horner, the former Atlanta infielder, last week. Raines and Dawson played for the Montreal Expos before entering the free agent market.

“We’re as serious about having the club win in ’87 as we’d be if it wasn’t going to be sold,” said Smith, who announced in November that the Padres were for sale.

Highest on Smith’s free-agent list is outfielder Raines, the 1986 National League batting champion who would like to play in San Diego. Smith has already spoken twice with Raines’ agent, Tom Reich, and they plan to meet again today.

“If I wasn’t serious, I wouldn’t be doing it myself,” Smith said of the negotiations with Raines. “We’re dead serious. We’re just not wasting anybody’s time. That’s what I told him (Reich). I said, ‘If you’re serious about playing here, let’s sit down and talk.’ ”

Smith talked with Horner, who was in San Diego about a week ago with his agent, Bucky Woy.

“I had dinner with Bob Horner and his agent, and I was extremely impressed by them. And they’ve indicated they’d like to play in San Diego. We certainly have interest in him also.”

Meanwhile, Dawson’s agent, Dick Moss, admitted Monday that the outfielder wouldn’t mind playing for the Padres but that his first choice is the Cubs.

Of Dawson, Smith said: “If you sign a Raines, you probably don’t have as much a need for Dawson because you’ve got (Tony) Gwynn in the outfield, and we plan on playing (Stan) Jefferson out there too.”

Signing them is not so easy.

Raines turned down Montreal’s three-year, $4.8-million offer, but he had told friends that he wanted out of Montreal, period, and would have turned down most offers.

“I don’t know what they (Raines and Reich) want,” Smith said. “Our conversation was that I wanted to know what they wanted, and if it was in the range we could either make a deal or not make a deal. He (Reich) indicated they had an idea what they wanted and if they could get (an offer) in that range, they were prepared to sign with somebody. As we stand now, I don’t know what those numbers are. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The reason the Padres are interested in Horner (.273 with 27 home runs and 87 runs batted in last year) is that he would give them the power they lost when Kevin McReynolds was traded to the Mets.

But where would he play? In 1986, he spent most of his time at first base, but the Padres have Steve Garvey, John Kruk and Carmelo Martinez there. Horner also is a former third baseman, but he has poor range and hasn’t played there much since he severely injured his wrist chasing a pop fly in 1984.

Horner’s asking price is steep. Atlanta offered $4.5 million over three years, but changed their offer. Later, a three-year deal worth $3.9 million was offered. In October, Woy, Horner’s agent, asked for seven-year, $15-million guaranteed contract.

Dawson, meanwhile, turned down a two-year, $2-million offer from the Expos. In 1986, he batted .284 with 20 homers and 78 RBIs.

Padre pitcher Storm Davis, acquired from the Orioles this winter, has filed for arbitration but is expected to sign with San Diego soon.

Meanwhile, there are four other Padres who have filed for arbitration. And Monday was the day for each to submit how much they think they should make in 1987.

According to sources, pitcher Dave Dravecky asked for $615,000; pitcher Andy Hawkins, $535,000; pitcher Craig Lefferts, $525,000; and outfielder Marvell Wynne, $300,000.

In New York, McReynolds asked for $825,000, and his new team countered with $625,000.

McReynolds made $275,000 last year. He had his best season in the big leagues, batting .288 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs.

Neither Smith nor Beth Benes, team attorney, would comment on the sale of the Padres.

“I’ve been trying very carefully to keep away from saying who is or who isn’t (interested in buying the team),” Benes said Monday. “Has there been a lot of interest? Certainly.”

But Smith said: “There really isn’t too much going on right now.”

Asked if he had a timetable, Smith said: “The sooner the better.”

Garvey is still interested in putting together a group to buy the team, but he won’t comment further.