Padres Get Rasmussen for Sierra

The Padres, who were without a left-handed starting pitcher, acquired Dennis Rasmussen from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in exchange for right-handed long reliever Candy Sierra.

Rasmussen, 29, is 2-6 this year with a 5.75 earned-run average. This is the fifth time he has been traded. He pitched in four games for the Padres in 1983 but was traded to the New York Yankees during spring training in 1984 for third baseman Graig Nettles.

“I’m not unhappy to be here. I was happy in Cincinnati, too,” Rasmussen said. “I’m going to work on my mechanics tomorrow and just try not to think too much.”

Rasmussen will replace inconsistent Mark Grant in the rotation. Grant, “barring injuries,” will be in the bullpen the rest of the season, said Pat Dobson, Padre pitching coach.

Sierra, 21, a rookie, allowed only 2 runs in 19 innings during spring training but struggled this season.

He had his lone save opportunity in Montreal on May 24, when he allowed three consecutive two-out singles as the Expos won, 7-6, in 13 innings. Sierra, who signed with San Diego at age 16, was 0-1 with a 5.70 ERA. Of the 16 baserunners he inherited, 8 scored.

“All I know is, he’s got a great arm,” said Pete Rose, the Reds’ manager. “He could help us in the future. I know (the Padres) talked an awful lot about (Sierra) a couple of years ago. Hell, he’s not an old man.

“I don’t think Rasmussen really pitched like he did last year (when he was 4-1 with Cincinnati after being acquired from the Yankees for Bill Gullickson).”

That there was a trade surprised few players on either team. But bigger names had been discussed. The Reds came to town shopping left fielder Kal Daniels, sources say, in exchange for the likes of Lance McCullers and John Kruk. Also mentioned was Nick Esasky, the Reds’ first baseman.

“We’re still talking (to more than one club),” said Murray Cook, the Reds’ general manager and vice president.

Rasmussen’s best season was as a Yankee in 1986, when he was 18-6. Against two teams with strong left-handed hitters, New York and St. Louis, the Padres are 3-9 this season.

The trading of Rasmussen enabled Jose Rijo, who was 6-1 as a middle reliever, to make his first start as a Red on Wednesday. He was the winning pitcher in the team’s 7-1 victory over the Padres.

PADRES’ 1988 JUNE DRAFT

Name P B/T Ht Wt Birthday Basse, Michael OF L/L 6-1 175 03/07/70 Benes, Andrew P R/R 6-6 230 08/20/67 *Bigham, Scott SS R/R 5-11 170 01/20/66 *Briggs, David 3B R/R 6-1 180 12/02/68 Brooks, Raymond C R/R 6-2 180 04/12/70 *Brucato, Robert P R/R 6-1 185 05/12/67 *Bryand, Randy P L/L 5-10 170 09/22/66 *Cantwell, Robert P L/L 6-2 190 11/29/65 *Cisarik, Brian OF L/L 5-11 170 06/12/65 *Conley, Gregory C R/R 6-3 200 02/24/66 *Curnow, Robert C R/R 6-0 175 10/19/67 Ebbert, Gregory P L/L 6-4 215 02/25/70 Ebright, Christopher 1B L/L 6-2 195 09/01/67 Farrell, Jason P R/R 6-4 210 01/06/70 Floria, Bryce P R/R 6-0 170 05/21/70 Grace, Michael P R/R 6-4 200 06/20/70 *Harris, Eric SS R/R 6-0 185 09/08/70 Hart, Darrin SS R/R 6-0 170 08/24/69 *Hart, Jeffrey P R/R 6-0 190 09/20/67 *Haslock, Christopher P R/R 6-4 220 04/20/66 *Holbert, Ray SS R/R 6-0 165 09/25/70 *Hoyer, Bradley P L/L 6-5 206 06/27/66 *Humphreys, Michael OF R/R 6-0 185 04/10/67 Jones, Heath C R/R 6-4 200 01/04/70 *Kuehl, John 3B S/R 6-3 190 08/15/67 *Kuhn, Chad OF L/L 6-2 195 04/02/66 Lifgren, Kelly P L/R 6-5 225 02/01/68 Looney, Brian P L/L 5-10 175 09/26/69 Lopez, Pedro C R/R 6-0 160 03/29/69 *Murdock, Joseph P L/L 6-4 235 09/09/66 Noland, James OF L/R 5-9 173 05/12/68 Peacock, Richard OF R/R 6-2 190 02/13/69 *Proctor, Craig OF R/R 6-0 180 03/29/66 Pueschner, Craig OF R/R 6-3 160 11/20/70 *Riesgo, Nikco 3B R/R 6-2 185 01/11/67 *Sager, Anthony P R/R 6-5 225 03/05/65 *Span, Brian OF R/R 6-1 185 09/30/67 Tanner, Randy OF R/R 5-10 190 01/29/66 *Thompson Jr., Wm. P R/R 6-0 190 08/29/59 *Tucker, Vance P R/R 6-5 195 12/07/67 *Tukes, Stanley P R/R 6-4 225 09/06/66 *Walish, Scott 1B L/L 6-1 175 06/17/69 *Wilkerson, Walter P R/R 6-1 165 10/18/68 Witkowski, Matthew SS R/R 6-0 180 02/05/70

Name School Hometown Basse, Michael Mater Dei HS San Juan Capistrano Benes, Andrew University of Evansville Evansville, Ind. *Bigham, Scott Willamette University Salem, Ore. *Briggs, David Brookdale JC Fairhaven, NJ Brooks, Raymond Blanchard HS Blanchard, Okla. *Brucato, Robert Northwestern University Mission Viejo *Bryand, Randy UC Santa Barbara San Jose *Cantwell, Robert Northern Idaho College Springfield, Ore. *Cisarik, Brian University of Texas Houston, Tex. *Conley, Gregory Rollins College Portland, Maine *Curnow, Robert Cal Poly Pomona Pomona Ebbert, Gregory Lake Brantley HS Longwood, Fla. Ebright, Christopher Oklahoma University Tulsa, Okla. Farrell, Jason Kennedy HS Granada Hills Floria, Bryce Hanahan HS Hanahan, S.C. Grace, Michael Joliet Catholic HS Joliet, Ill. *Harris, Eric Roosevelt HS Dallas, Tex. Hart, Darrin Harding HS Charlotte, N.C. *Hart, Jeffrey U. of Central Arkansas Conway, Ark. *Haslock, Christopher Cal State Dominguez Burbank *Holbert, Ray Long Beach Jordan HS Long Beach *Hoyer, Bradley Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Los Gatos *Humphreys, Michael Texas Tech University Desoto, Tex. Jones, Heath El Segundo HS El Segundo *Kuehl, John Cal Berkeley Scottsdale, Ariz. *Kuhn, Chad University of New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. Lifgren, Kelly Glendale CC Phoenix, Ariz. Looney, Brian Cunnery HS Cheshire, Conn. Lopez, Pedro Arizona Western JC San Vicente, P.R. *Murdock, Joseph Southern Arkansas U. Benton, Ark. Noland, James Central Florida JC Springhill, Fla. Peacock, Richard Ernest Ward HS Walnut Hill, Fla. *Proctor, Craig Cal Poly Pomona Altadena Pueschner, Craig Sahuaro HS Tucson, Ariz. *Riesgo, Nikco San Diego State Long Beach, Calif. *Sager, Anthony University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio *Span, Brian Seminole JC New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Tanner, Randy Southern California Valinda *Thompson Jr., Wm. Mt. Dora HS Mt. Dora, Fla. *Tucker, Vance Seminole JC Ft. Smith, Ark. *Tukes, Stanley Broward JC Savannah, Ga. *Walish, Scott Mesa College San Diego *Wilkerson, Walter Clermont HS Clermont, Fla. Witkowski, Matthew Deer Valley HS Glendale, Ariz.

*Agreed to terms.