Padres to Allow Rasmussen, Pagliarulo, Lynn to File for Free Agency

The Padres have decided to allow starting pitcher Dennis Rasmussen, third baseman Mike Pagliarulo and outfielder Fred Lynn to file for free agency without making any contract offers before the Nov. 4 deadline, Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, said Wednesday.

The Padres also will offer salary arbitration today to first baseman Jack Clark, preventing him from becoming a free agent.

“It was an easy decision,” McIlvaine said.

Clark, however, still could be declared a second-look free agent by an impending Collusion III ruling, which is expected within weeks. If Clark becomes a free agent and signs with another team, the Padres would not be compensated.

“I’m just waiting right now,” said Clark, who led the Padres with 25 homers. “Everything hinges on that ruling. I just want a decision one way or another, to know what’s going to happen to me.”

The Padres remain undecided about who they want to retain or seek in the free agent class. Privately, they’ve expressed interest in third baseman Terry Pendleton, center fielder Willie McGee and left-handed reliever Ken Dayley, but they have yet to publicly disclose their sentiments. They’ve also talked about free agent right fielder Darryl Strawberry, but Strawberry said three weeks ago he will not play for the Padres, chastising the organization and its fans.

Rasmussen, who earned $802,500 this past season, is one of nine left-handed starters eligible for free agency. He and his agent, Bob Teaff, have had preliminary discussions with the Padres, but no contractual numbers have been discussed.

“The door’s open, they know where they can start,” said Rasmussen, who was 11-15 with a 4.51 earned-run average. “But it’s evident we’ll have to be filing.”

Lynn, who like Clark had to be provided arbitration by today’s deadline to avoid being eligible for free agency, is not expected to be offered that option. Yet, Lynn likely will return to the Padres as a reserve outfielder/first baseman since Manager Greg Riddoch says that he wants him back. Lynn, who earned $600,000 this past season, is expected to sign at about the same salary for the 1991 season.

Pagliarulo, one of six third basemen eligible for free agency, said Wednesday he also wants to return to the Padres, but it’s unknown whether the club want him. Pagliarulo batted .254 with seven homers and 38 runs batted in, and the Padres must determine whether they can improve by finding another third baseman or using Bip Roberts as an everyday player at that position.

“They need a third baseman, that’s very obvious,” said Pagliarulo, who earned $605,000 this past season. “But I just don’t know what the manager or organization wants to do. I’ll give them every opportunity to sign me, but I want a commitment.

“I’m not going to demand anything and I can’t, not with my numbers. But I certainly can play better and I will, by playing every day.

“I’m a very loyal guy, but it’s a two-way street, isn’t it?”