Padres Make No Move on Raines’ Offer

Ballard Smith, the Padre president, said he did not speak with representatives for free-agent outfielder Tim Raines on Sunday. And sources say the Padres have about 48 hours to sign Raines before he begins negotiating with other teams.

On Friday, one of Raines’ representatives called the Padres to say that Raines was willing sign a one-year contract worth about $1.3 million--plus various incentive clauses that could earn him $1.5 million for the season.

Asked if he was still interested in signing Raines, Smith said Sunday: “I’m not interested in talking about it. We’ve said what we’ve said, and that’s still what our position is.”

Earlier, Smith had said that he wanted to sign Raines but felt that $1.5 million was too much to spend. In late January, the Padres offered Raines a two-year, $2.2 million contract, which Raines turned down.

The Padres are the only team Raines is negotiating with now. A source said Reich has planned discussions with other teams, perhaps the Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, later this week--in case he and the Padres can’t work out a deal. Raines has already turned down a $1 million offer to play for the Astros, the Houston Post reported Sunday.

Reich was unavailable for comment Sunday. Earlier, he had said: “This is an all-out commitment to have him in uniform in the next week.”

In December, Raines turned down a three-year contract offer worth $4.6 million from the Expos, his former team.