McIlvaine Refutes Report

Padres General Manager Joe McIlvaine on Thursday denied a report the team offered all-star catcher Benito Santiago a three-year contract worth $11 million.

“I don’t know where they came up with that figure,” McIlvaine said of a report in The San Diego Union. “We haven’t even discussed a three-year contract.”

Santiago and the Padres are in arbitration, and McIlvaine said the decision by arbitrator Rolf Valton should be announced today. Santiago is seeking a $2.5-million contract, the Padres are offering $1.65 million.

In separate matters, sources said the Padres are exploring the possibility of signing free agent third baseman Jim Presley from the Atlanta Braves, and McIlvaine said the team has offered a contract of at least three years to Fred McGriff, whose arbitration hearing is Feb. 15. McGriff is seeking $3.3 million, the Padres are offering $2.225 million.

As for Santiago, McIlvaine said the Padres have talked about one-year, two-year and four-year deals. The one- and two-year deals, he said, aren’t likely.

“They just don’t make sense,” he said.

Scott Boras, Santiago’s agent, is seeking a four-year deal in excess of $16 million, sources said. The Padres’ counteroffer is worth close to $3 million a year over four years, sources said.

McIlvaine would not confirm that but said: “We made him the highest offer any catcher in baseball has ever received. We offered him an awful lot of money.”

Philadelphia catcher Darren Daulton became baseball’s highest-paid catcher in the offseason when he signed a three-year contract for $6.75 million.

McIlvaine said the arbitration decision won’t end negotiations for a multi-year contract.

“The case is not closed,” he said. “Win or lose, we’ll keep talking.”

According to sources, the Padres are expected to talk today with Presley’s agent, Jim Krivacs.

The addition of Presley could change the role of utility man Bip Roberts, who would likely be moved to left field if Presley made the team.

“The main reason we’d look at Presley is that he’d give us more flexibility,” McIlvaine said. “But nothing’s been decided. We still have some divided opinion. It’s being debated right now. . . . If Bip gets hurt, we’re short at third.”

Presley, 29, hit .242 last season with the Braves. He hit 19 home runs and had 72 RBIs. He also made 25 errors, which led all third basemen in the National League.

Last year was Presley’s first in the National League. He spent his previous six major league seasons with the Seattle Mariners, averaging 19 home runs.

Padre Notes

The Padres have invited pitcher Pat Clements, catcher Chris Jelic and outfielder Greg Gross to spring training.

Clements, 29, a left-hander, pitched in nine games for the Padres last season before being sent on June 4 to Las Vegas, where he was 4-3 with a 6.05 ERA in 26 games. Clements, who has pitched for the Angels, Pirates and Yankees during his eight-year career, has been signed to a Triple-A contract for the 1991 season.

Jelic, 27, has also signed a Triple-A contract. He spent the past five seasons in the Mets organization, playing four major league games last year and spending the rest of the season in Tidewater, where he hit .306 in 92 games with four home runs and 49 RBIs.

Gross, 38, was out of baseball last season. A 17-year veteran, Gross ranks third on the all-time pinch hits list with 143. He has played for the Astros, Cubs and Phillies.

Times staff writer Bob Nightengale contributed to this story.