Padres Will Pay the Price to Sign Langston, Davis : Pay Ball!: Salaries could hit $19 million, but Kroc vows that team will stay competitive.

Despite putting the team up for sale three weeks ago, Padre owner Joan Kroc has given the front office permission to pursue pitcher Mark Langston when he becomes a free agent, according to sources.

The Padres’ 1989 player payroll was $13.2 million for their final 24-man major-league roster, and it could reach nearly $19 million in 1990 if the club signs Langston and retains reliever Mark Davis.

“I’m not afraid of anything that makes (business) sense,” Kroc said Thursday, “something that not only would enhance the team but increase its attractiveness.

“During my tenure of owner, I’ve always been committed about putting a top-notch team on the field, and that will continue.”

The Padres, forbidden by major league baseball bylaws to publicly discuss players they are seeking until the players file for free agency, quietly are elated with the decision and are hopeful of negotiating with Langston quickly after he files.

Langston, 12-9 with 2.39 ERA in 1989, already has announced that he will file and is uninterested in returning to the Montreal Expos, who acquired him in May from the Seattle Mariners. He has 15 days to file beginning one day after the World Series.

Langston, who made $1.3 million in 1989, is believed to be seeking a three-year contract for at least $8.5 million. He said that his preference is to play in Southern California, although his list includes all five California teams and the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees.

Frank Viola of the New York Mets and Orel Hershiser of the Dodgers are the highest-paid starting pitchers in baseball with three-year, $7.9 million contracts. That soon could be surpassed, however, not only by Langston but by Bret Saberhagen of the Kansas City Royals. Saberhagen, the leading candidate to win the American League Cy Young Award, has been offered a three-year contract by the Royals for $8.75 million, although the third year is at the club’s option.

The Padres’ final 24-man roster submitted to the league office Aug. 31 was paid $12,294,000 in salaries and incentives, according to agents and sources in the Major League Players Assn. and the Player Relations Committee.

In addition in the 1989 fiscal year, the Padres paid signing bonuses of $400,000 to free-agent pitcher Bruce Hurst, $325,000 to outfielder Tony Gwynn and $200,000 to pitcher Ed Whitson. The Padres also paid $1.1 million in 1989 to former pitcher LaMarr Hoyt, who was released in June 1987. His contract expired at the end of the season, and the Padres no longer have any debts to former players.

The Padres will shed $890,000 in salaries from their 1989 payroll with the retirement of Tim Flannery ($400,000) and the departure of outfielder Carmelo Martinez ($490,000), who was told by the Padres that he will not be retained. But with All-Star catcher Benito Santiago ($310,000), Chris James ($230,000) and Mark Grant ($155,000) being eligible for arbitration for the first time, along with anticipated substantial raises to Bip Roberts ($74,000) and Greg Harris ($71,500), the 1990 salaries are expected to exceed 1989’s by at least $1.1 million.

If the Padres are successful in retaining Davis--which Kroc said is her No. 1 priority--and obtaining Langston, their payroll could reach nearly $19 million in 1990. It would be the first time in the franchise’s history that they would have three players earning more than $2 million, with possibly four $2 million players on their payroll by 1991.

First baseman Jack Clark is in the second year of a two-year, $4 million contract. Davis, who is eligible for free agency, is seeking a three-year contract for $7.0 million-$7.2 million, according to sources. And Gwynn’s contract increases from $1 million to $2 million after the 1990 season.

“You always want to do things that are consistent within the organization,” Padre President Dick Freeman said, “but I don’t anticipate any problems because the team’s for sale. She (Kroc) wants us to handle everything in the same fashion.

“We made some improvements in the club last off-season, and the players and fans both responded in a very positive way.

“Whoever buys this club is going to get a (top)-quality franchise, in an excellent city with first-rate ballplayers.”

The Padres drew 2 million fans for the second time in history while selling 2,286,795 tickets. The Padres expect to make at least a $3 million profit for the season, although their financial status won’t be known until the end of the month when their fiscal year ends.

Freeman would not reveal financial details but said the club’s break-even point this season was 2 million tickets sold.

“I think this club is in the best shape it’s ever been in,” said Freeman, who has been with the Padres since 1981 and became president in April. “I’ve always felt good about the business aspect, but the baseball was really good. We had a wonderful year, not just in terms of attendance but in wins.”

The Padres ended this past season with 89 victories, the second-highest total in their 21-year history, after combining to finish 46 games below .500 during the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

The Padres, according to sources in the baseball industry, have made a profit in five of the past six years. Considering that their TV and radio revenue will double beginning next season, providing them about $18 million from national, local and cable broadcasting outlets, that trend should only continue.

In fact, whoever becomes the new owner could pay off the entire player payroll with broadcasting revenue before a single ticket is sold.

Now you can begin to understand why 40 entities have expressed interest in purchasing the Padres since Kroc decided at the end of the season to sell the team.

“It’s like we have a new baby up for adoption,” Kroc said. “Now, we just want to make sure we find the right parents.”

THE PADRE PAYROLL

NAME: 1989 SALARY*: 1990 STATUS

Shawn Abner: $39,000 (Minors)/$77,500 (Padres): Unsigned

Sandy Alomar Jr.: $30,000 (Minors)/$75,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Carlos Baerga: $12,000 (Minors): Unsigned

**Andy Benes: $68,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Ricky Bones: $12,000 (Minors): Unsigned

Randy Byers: $26,000 (Minors): Unsigned

Jack Clark: $2.0 million: $2.0 million

Extras: $100,000 for MVP, $50,000 for World Series MVP, $250,000 if traded.

Jerald Clark: $25,000 (Minors)/$68,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Pat Clements: $205,000: Unsigned

Joey Cora: $40,000 (Minors)/$77,500 (Padres): Unsigned

Mark Davis: $600,000: Eligible for free agency

Tim Flannery: $400,000: Retired

Mark Grant: $155,000: Eligible for arbitration

Gary Green: $50,000 (Minors)/$68,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Tony Gwynn: $1.0 million (plus $25,000, All-Star): $1.0 million

Base salary beyond 1990: $2 million in 1991, club option for $2 million in 1992 or $200,000 buyout.

Extras: $25,000 for All-Star, $100,000 for MVP ($50,000 for second through fifth), $100,000 for World Series MVP, $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP.

Greg Harris: $71,500: Unsigned

Thomas Howard: $12,000 (Minors): Unsigned

Bruce Hurst: $1.6 million: $1.5 million

Base salary beyond 1990: $1.75 million in 1991.

Extras: $100,000 for Cy Young, $100,000 for MVP, $50,000 for LCS MVP, $75,000 for World Series

MVP, $25,000 for All-Star, no-trade provision.

Darrin Jackson: $90,000: Unsigned

Chris James: $230,000: Eligible for arbitration

Dave Leiper: $150,000: Eligible for arbitration

Shane Mack: $47,000 (Minors): Unsigned

Carmelo Martinez: $490,000: Eligible for free agency

Matt Maysey: $22,700 (Minors): Unsigned

**Dan Murphy: $68,000 (Padres): Unsigned

: Rob Nelson: $32,500 (Minors)/$68,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Eric Nolte: $37,500 (Minors)/$71,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Mike Pagliarulo: $575,000: Eligible for arbitration

Mark Parent: $100,000: Unsigned

Dennis Rasmussen: $802,500: $802,500

Bip Roberts: $74,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Benito Santiago: $310,000 (plus $25,000, All-Star): Eligible for arbitration

Plus: $25,000 for All-Star, $10,000 for Gold Glove, $7,500 for Silver Slugger award.

Calvin Schiraldi: $400,000: Eligible for arbitration

Don Schulze: $100,000: Eligible for arbitration

Eric Show: $1.2 million: $800,000

Base salary beyond 1990: Club option in 1991 for $1.1 million or $250,000 buyout. Option vested if player pitches 175 innings in 1990. If option vested or exercised, player can elect to file for salary arbitration in 1991 for $1.1 million to $1.7 million.

Extras: $75,000 for Cy Young ($25,000 for second or third), $25,000 for All-Star, $50,000 for LCS MVP, $50,000 for World Series MVP, no-trade provision in 1989, $50,000 if subsequently traded.

Phil Stephenson: $24,000 (Minors)/$68,000 (Padres): Unsigned

Garry Templeton: $500,000 (plus $100,000, 140 games): $500,000

Base salary beyond 1990: $480,000 in 1991, increasing to $500,000 if he plays 100 games in 1990.

Extras: $25,000 ($50,000 in 1991) for 100 games played; $25,000 ($50,000 in 1991) for 120 games played; $25,000 ($50,000 in 1991) for 130 games played; $25,000 ($50,000 in 1991) for 140 games played. $100,000 for MVP ($50,000 for second-fifth), $50,000 for LCS MVP, $50,000 for World Series MVP, $25,000 for All-Star.

Ed Whitson: $900,000: $1.025 million

Base salary beyond 1990: $1.225 million in 1991, club option for $1.0 million in 1992 or $250,000 buyout.

Extras: Contract is guaranteed in 1992 if he makes 30 starts, pitches 200 innings or obtains 60 points on system that provides two points for each start and one point for each relief appearance. $50,000 for Cy Young, $35,000 for second, $25,000 for third, $25,000 for All-Star.

Information obtained through agents and sources in Major League Players Assn. and Player Relations Committee.

*--Where two salaries are listed for player who split 1989 between minors and majors, those are the rate of pay for a full season at each particular level, not the exact amount earned at those levels.

**--Not on preseason 40-man roster, minor league contracts unavailable. Figure listed is rate for full season in majors.