Padres Discuss Langston Deal With Mariners

The path was cleared Tuesday for discussions to intensify between the Padres and the Seattle Mariners over a player Seattle sources say has become a main target in Jack McKeon’s star search--All-Star pitcher Mark Langston.

Langston, 28, a 3-time American League strikeout leader, will be a free agent after this season, and chances of the Mariners gaining a commitment from him for further seasons have been severely damaged by the end of talks over a long-term contract, his agent said.

“A multi-year deal will not be done with Seattle, plain and simple,” said Arn Tellem, whose client is looking for $6 million over 3 years, a figure the traditionally tight Mariners cannot will not come near. “My assumption is that Mark will play under a 1-year contract this season with the Mariners and then become a free agent and see what happens.”

This is where the Padres come in. Sources say that Mariner General Manager Woody Woodward has spoken several times with Padre Manager McKeon, most recently late last week. Woodward has reportedly told McKeon that the Mariners are willing to trade left-hander Langston for fear of losing him to free agency next October for nothing more than a draft choice.

McKeon, confident of signing Langston because the pitcher was born here and has spent his off-seasons here, told Woodward he would listen. The Padres recently gave Bruce Hurst $5.5 million over 3 years, and maybe could do the same for Langston. Sources say he would accept a similar figure.

From the way Langston talked from his home in Bellevue, Wash., the Padres would be a viable option.

“I consider San Diego one of the most beautiful spots in the United States--playing there wouldn’t be torture or anything,” said Langston, who became a friend of Tony Gwynn through off-season workouts and a friend of Bruce Hurst’s through something entirely different.

“Bruce and I have jammed together,” said Langston, who plays the guitar. “We got together last time the Red Sox were in Seattle and played together.”

Just what instrument does quiet, composed Bruce Hurst play?

“The drums,” said Langston with a chuckle.

The price for Langston? Definitely top prospect Sandy Alomar Jr., because the Mariners haven’t had a reliable catcher in their 12-year history. Also one of the Padre starting pitchers, either Walt Terrell or Dennis Rasmussen. The Mariners might also want John Kruk but would then also throw in top young outfielder Mickey Brantley.

The Padre feeling is that, despite the fact they already have one of the top pitching staffs in baseball on paper, Langston would be worth it. Not only has he struck out more than 200 batters in 4 of his 5 years as a major leaguer, he finished in the top five in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 1987 when he went 19-13 with a 3.84 earned-run average and 260 strikeouts. In the 1987 All-Star game, he struck out 3 in 2 perfect innings including, coincidentally, new Padre Jack Clark.

As any world champion of the past, oh, 50 years can tell you, you can never have enough of that sort of pitching.

The Padres aren’t the only ones to believe this. The New York Mets are also in the chase for Langston and Mariner outfielder Jay Buhner, and have offered third baseman Howard Johnson and pitchers Sid Fernandez and Dave West.

While McKeon would not comment directly on Langston Tuesday, he did admit that the chase for Atlanta Braves outfielder Dale Murphy has been joined by a new pursuit.

“I’m talking to two clubs right now--one for a hitter, the other for a pitcher,” McKeon said.

Why go for another pitcher when the club’s stated need has been a hitter?

“It’s just like anything else--if a good one’s available, you just don’t turn them down because that same guy may not be available next year when you want him,” McKeon said. “If a good class premium pitcher is out there, why not take a shot at him? You can never have too much. I don’t believe in sitting back and saying I’ve got enough.

“We’re just in the talking stage, we’re really not down to specifics yet, but there’s a little life to it (the deal for a pitcher). If there’s a little talk, there’s a chance.”

Failing to get a power hitter, McKeon said, would not be the end of the world. He implied he has already given up the search for a power-hitting third baseman, which would give the job to the platoon of Randy Ready and Tim Flannery--”The guy to fill our needs long-range is not out there right now,” McKeon said.

And not only could McKeon easily start the year with the same outfield that ended last season--John Kruk in right field, Gwynn in center, Carmelo Martinez in left--but he said that if Kruk or Martinez needed to be traded to get Langston, the Padres would still survive.

“We have a couple of young outfielders (Shawn Abner, for example) who could step in and have time to grow because of the great pitching,” McKeon said.

McKeon said talks about Murphy have stalled. “We’re going to have to sit and wait and let them (Braves) decide if they want to move any of their players,” he said.

Speaking of trades, look for Dickie Thon to go to Philadelphia for a prospect and some cash any day now. Because of Thon’s trade demand, if he is not dealt by March 15, he becomes a free agent.

“I would think I’ll trade Thon, he’s not going to become a free agent,” McKeon said. “Unless he rescinds the demand to be traded, he’s gone, maybe within an hour or a couple of days.”

From his home in Dorado, Puerto Rico, last week, Thon said he would not change his mind.

“I didn’t say anything during the season because I didn’t want to cause problems,” Thon said. “But I have to play every day. I love San Diego, but I can’t play every day there.”

Jeffrey Parenti contributed to this story.