Padres Give McGriff the Kind of Contract Santiago Wanted : Baseball: First baseman’s production worth the money, McIlvaine says.

Nearly seven weeks ago, catcher Benito Santiago asked for a contract of Will Clark proportions--a four-year deal for $17 million.

On Thursday, Padre General Manager Joe McIlvaine announced that newly acquired first baseman Fred McGriff had received a deal that would thrill Will.

McIlvaine confirmed McGriff will receive $15.25 million over four years with an option year worth $4.25 million and a $500,000 buyout.

After making $1.45 million with the Toronto Blue Jays last year, McGriff will get $2.5 million in 1991, $3.75 million in 1992, $4 million in 1993 and $3.5 million in 1994. The deal also included a $1 million signing bonus.

“At 27 years of age, he is entering the prime years of his career, and he will be an asset to this organization, both on and off the field, in the years ahead,” McIlvaine said.

After losing his arbitration hearing last week and failing to work out a long-term deal with the Padres, Santiago said he will become a free agent after the 1992 season.

McIlvaine said he could not justify giving Santiago the same kind of money he gave McGriff.

“If you look at the records right now, Benito’s offensive numbers are just not close to McGriff’s,” McIlvaine said. “What (Santiago) is seeking is for us to overpay him to keep him here. If he goes out and has a good year, maybe he’ll earn that kind of contract. At this point, we really couldn’t do it.”

Scott Boras, Santiago’s agent, said McGriff’s contract did not surprise him because of the salary Clark, also a first baseman, received two years ago from the San Francisco Giants.

But Boras said big statistics aren’t the only criteria for a lucrative salary.

“It has been established in the marketplace that, for a player can get a premium contract, you don’t have to be an offensive star,” he said. “Look at (St. Louis shortstop) Ozzie Smith. Because you are unique, you can command premium money.”

McGriff has averaged 31 homers and 80 runs batted in over the past four years.

Although McGriff has never played a game in a San Diego uniform, he becomes the highest-paid Padre and the fifth highest-paid player in baseball.

“Hopefully, I can go out on the field and show (the Padres) that I’m worth it,” said McGriff, during a conference call with reporters from his home in Tampa, Fla. “To me, it’s no big deal to try to be the highest-paid player in baseball. The contract is just one of those things. I’m still dreaming. All my life I dreamed of playing the big leagues and here I am.”

McGriff avoided an arbitration hearing that was scheduled today.

McGriff said he chose a long-term deal over two years of arbitration and a possibly an even more lucrative free-agent contract in the future. “Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little in return,” McGriff said. “The bottom line came down to security for my family. Every year (with Toronto), I had to go out and get disability insurance. Now, I can just go out and play.”