McGriff, Santiago Looking for Big Money : Padres: Both to file for arbitration today for more than $2 million each.

Padre first baseman Fred McGriff and catcher Benito Santiago will file for arbitration today before the deadline, and according to sources, each will be seeking in excess of $2 million--the highest requests in franchise history.

McGriff, who has averaged 35 homers the past three seasons and earned $1.45 million in 1990, could become the fifth player in major-league baseball to submit an arbitration request of at least $2.5 million. Santiago, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, could become the 12th player in history of arbitration to request at least $2.2 million.

Also expected to file today are infielder/outfielder Bip Roberts, outfielder Darrin Jackson and pitchers Wes Gardner and Calvin Schiraldi. The players and the Padres have until Friday morning to submit their arbitration requests, and will exchange figures in the afternoon. If they still have not come to an agreement, their cases will be scheduled and heard Feb. 1-Feb. 21.

The Padres have yet to enter negotiations with McGriff or Santiago, but McIlvaine said that they’ll begin talking once the numbers are filed. The Padres also will explore the possibility of long-term contracts with McGriff and Santiago, but they have not yet decided whether they will offer more than a one-year contract at this juncture.

“We’re discussing it among ourselves right now,” McIlvaine said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Santiago, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, has insisted that unless the Padres offer him a four-year contract, he will discontinue negotiation with them until after he becomes a free-agent after the 1992 season. McGriff said that he also would like a multi-year contract, but has not made any demands.

“Joe and I have talked about it,” said Scott Boras, Santiago’s agent, “and came upon an agreement that after the filing of the numbers we’d begin discussions. I think it’s the best way anyway, because at least then you know where the parties are headed.”

In other news, the Padres continue in their quest to obtain power-hitting outfielder Danny Tartabull of the Kansas City Royals, engaging in trade discussions Monday. The Padres, sources confirmed, reluctantly might be willing to part with Roberts, but the Royals are seeking at least one more player.

“I’m not going to confirm who we talked about,” said Herk Robinson, Royals general manager, “but Joe appears to be a guy willing to make a trade. We’re looking for some help, and Joe has exhibited that he would like to do something.”

Said McIlvaine: “Anything can happen. But is anything imminent? No.”

Tartabull--eligible for free agency after the 1991 season--and his agent, Dennis Gilbert, have informed the Royals that they will not return after the season. They also notified the Royals that if Tartabull is traded, the Padres are the only team with which he’d be willing to sign a long-term contract before the season’s conclusion.

“We have a concern, of course, about losing five-year players,” Robinson said. “But, on the other hand, nobody wants to give up too much for a player they may wind up losing, either.”

The Padres, McIlvaine said, also have signed catcher Dann Bilardello to a triple-A contract. Bilardello, 31, has played in parts of six major-league seasons, playing last year for the Pittsburgh Pirates.