USC’s Peete Considers Signing With A’s

USC quarterback Rodney Peete said Wednesday that he is seriously considering signing a contract with the Oakland Athletics, who selected him in the 14th round of the recent amateur baseball draft.

Peete, who met with A’s officials last week, said the club is trying to work out concessions that would allow him to continue his football career at USC. Peete said at first he wasn’t interested in being drafted by a major league team because he thought he would be required to report to that club’s training camp this summer.

“I need to use this summer to get ready for football,” he said. “I missed spring practice because I played baseball (as an infielder for USC), and I want to spend the summer throwing the football and getting my arm in shape.”

Oakland has agreed that Peete wouldn’t have to report until spring training begins in March, long after USC’s football season is over.

“We know this college football season is important to him--he’s a Heisman Trophy candidate--and we won’t interfere with that,” said Duane Shaffer, an Oakland scout.

Said Peete: “Oakland is a great organization, and that’s a reason I’m seriously considering it. But I have to figure out what the best thing is for me. . . . Oakland has yet to make me an offer I can’t refuse.”

If Peete signs with Oakland, he will forfeit only his college baseball eligibility and his scholarship, but he will be able to play college football. Under National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules, an athlete can be a professional in one sport and an amateur in another.

Peete said he has yet to decide whether he wants to play professional baseball or pro football. If he does play baseball, he would like to play for a West Coast team. If he does not sign with Oakland by the first day of school, his name will go back into the hopper for next June’s baseball draft.

Peete said he also is concerned that signing a baseball contract will lower his selection in next spring’s National Football League draft, but Shaffer said that the A’s have agreed that any contract with them would be voided if Peete decides to play professional football.