Hawkins Will Take the Padres to Arbitration

Pitcher Andy Hawkins took the San Diego Padres to arbitration Friday afternoon, after negotiations broke off earlier in the day.

Hawkins, who made $300,000 in 1986, has asked for a $535,000 contract in 1987. The Padres have countered with a $450,000 offer, and arbitrator Ray Goetz will make a decision sometime today. Tal Smith, the former Houston Astro general manager, argued the case on behalf of the Padres, and Jerry Kapstein argued for Hawkins.

Hawkins, 27, went 10-8 with a 4.34 earned-run average in 1986, but sources said Kapstein’s best chance of winning was to emphasize what Hawkins did in 1985, when he went 18-8 with a 3.15 ERA.

Arbitrators look at a players’ entire career, not just the previous year, when they decide particular cases.

Goetz, a law professor at the University of Kansas, would not comment on Friday’s hearing.

The hearing was almost avoided. Sources said the Padres offered Hawkins a substantial raise from last year, but Hawkins turned it down. Jack McKeon, Padre general manager, said he negotiated with Kapstein until the hearing began.

Kapstein was unavailable for comment.