McIlvaine Interviews for Padres’ GM Slot

Joe McIlvaine, New York Mets vice president/baseball operations, said Saturday night that he recently interviewed for the Padre general manager opening, but refused to elaborate.

Reached at his Tuckahoe, N.Y., home, McIlvaine said in a telephone interview that he was in California a week ago to interview for the job, but declined to say whether he’d accept, if offered.

“I’ve been out there, I’ve talked with them,” McIlvaine said, “but that’s all I can tell you. I’m sorry, I’m just not going to comment any further.”

However, Newsday reported in today’s editions that McIlvaine will go to the Padres, and the announcement could come as soon as today.

Newsday reported that its source said the announcement might be put off until the Mets are officially eliminated from contention for the National League East title. One victory by the Pittsburgh Pirates or a loss by the Mets would accomplish that.

Tom Werner, Padre chairman, who has been conducting the interviews, declined to comment, as he has throughout the search process.

McIlvaine, 42, is one of six candidates that the Padres are known to have interviewed for the position. However, he is the highest ranking of any of the candidates interviewed, and is the only one of the group who directly is involved in the trading of players.

Although the Padres are keeping mum, McIlvaine would appear to be the leading candidate of the group because of his qualifications. He joined the Mets in November 1980 as the director of scouting, subsequently became assistant vice president/director of player personnel, and in November 1985 was promoted to his present position. Previously, he had spent five years in the Detroit Tiger organization as a minor-league pitcher, and was a scout with the Orioles, Angels and Brewers.

Perhaps the biggest question to the Padre ownership is whether McIlvaine would accept an offer. The New York Times, attributing their information to sources close to McIlvaine, reported that McIlvaine is willing to leave.

The other candidates who have been interviewed for the vacancy, and who still are interested, are: Bob Gebhard, vice president/player personnel of the Minnesota Twins; Walt Jocketty, director of baseball administration of the Oakland Athletics; Dan Duquette, assistant general manager of the Montreal Expos; Gordon Ash, assistant general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays; and Roger Jongewaard, vice president/scouting and player development of the Seattle Mariners.

McIlvaine’s name has popped up in the past for general manager vacancies, but he discouraged interest, expressing his desire to stay with the Mets and become their general manager when Frank Cashen retires.

The New York Times reported that McIlvaine’s thinking has changed, primarily because Cashen still isn’t ready for retirement. Also, McIlvaine reportedly is weary of being heavily criticized for his recent trades, such as sending outfielder Lenny Dykstra and reliever Roger McDowell to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Juan Samuel.