PLAYING CATCH-UP BALL : Ed Whitson Seeks Trade or Extension

At first, Padre starter Ed Whitson tried to be philosophical about it. Then, he tried patience. Now, he’s so damn frustrated he doesn’t know what to do.

Whitson, who toyed with the idea of being a spring-training holdout before reporting Monday with the other Padre pitchers and catchers, said he instead is contemplating the idea of requesting a trade.

“I really don’t want to move from here,” Whitson said, “but for the kind of money they’re giving out now, I’d be a fool not to take it.

“I would like some consideration in recognition with what I’ve done.

“We’ve been trying for two months to talk about a contract extension, but they won’t even acknowledge us.”

Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, said that he has talked several times with Whitson’s representatives, but revealed that he no plans to negotiate with Whitson.

“I think I’d prefer to wait and see at this time,” McIlvaine said. “I don’t see any urgency.”

Whitson, who led the Padres in victories in three of the past four seasons, finds himself in a similar predicament that tormented teammate Tony Gwynn--playing with an antiquated contract. Although he was the Padres’ third highest-paid player when he signed a two-year contract with an option in 1989, he now finds himself eighth on the Padre payroll, making $1.225 million this season.

Most troublesome, he said, is that the Padres have the option of giving him a pay cut in 1992, paying him $1 million in salary or a $250,000 buyout. Whitson’s 1992 contract, in fact, does not even become guaranteed unless he pitches in 200 innings or makes 30 starts.

“Come on, look at some of the money they’re throwing out now,” Whitson said. “I’m not going to boast or anything, but I think I’m at least half as good as these guys.

“I saw a thing on ESPN the other night, and they said that Roger Clemens, Dave Stewart and myself, each had 27 quality starts (three or fewer earned runs in at least six innings) out of 32 starts. Now, you see what Clemens is making. You see what Stewart is making. Now, look at mine.”

Whitson would rather not know the ugly details, but Clemens will make an average salary of $5.38 million beginning in 1992 for four years, and Stewart will be paid $3.5 million this season and in 1992.

“I’m not saying I’m as good as them,” Whitson said, “but there’s not that much difference.”

Whitson, who said that he believes that players should abide by their contracts, is not requesting a contract renegotiation. He’s not even asking for his contract to be restructured with incentives. Instead, he simply is seeking a contract extension, just like the Padres recently gave starter Bruce Hurst (two years, $6.4 million) and outfielder Tony Gwynn (three years, $12.25 million).

“I’m not taking anything away from those guys at all, they deserve it,” Whitson said. “But take a look at my numbers, I think I do too.”

Whitson was selected the Padres’ pitcher of the year in 1990, going 14-9 with a career-low 2.60 ERA, third-lowest in the National League. He also equaled a career high with six complete games, and set career-bests with three shutouts and 228 2/3 innings pitched. If it wasn’t that the Padres scored two or fewer runs in his nine defeats, who knows just how many games Whitson could have won.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that I could have easily won 22, 24 games last year,” Whitson said. “I felt that good. I feel even better now. I feel like I’m 24 years old again.”

Certainly, no one in the Padre front office is attempting to diminish his talent. Padre Manager Greg Riddoch even confessed Monday that it’s going to be either Whitson or Hurst as his opening-day starter. McIlvaine even said that he’s amazed at Whitson’s durability over the years.

Yet, the simple obstacle about extending his contract, McIlvaine said, is Whitson’s age.

Whitson will turn 36 in May, and by the time his current contract expires, he’ll be 37 going on 38. Gwynn and Hurst, on the other hand, won’t reach that age until their extensions elapse.

“When you get to that age,” McIlvaine said, “logic tells you to be cautious. I’m not adverse to negotiating during the season, let’s just wait and see.

Said Whitson: “What the hell do they want me to do, throw a 0.00 ERA?”

Countered McIlvaine: “You’ve got to remember, I lived through Whitson in New York.”

Ah yes, New York. It might be a place that Frank Sinatra lionized, and where the lights dim but never darken, but it proved to be Whitson’s worst nightmare.

He took up in residence in New York in 1985 when he left the Padres and signed a five-year, $4.4 million as a free agent. He lasted only 1 1/2 years in New York, requesting a trade after several death threats left his emotions in such disarray that he could no longer start games at Yankee Stadium.

Yet, since the 1987 season, Whitson is 53-44, pitching in at least 200 innings each of the past four years without missing a start, and lowering his ERA in each of those years. He might be getting older, but with an off-season workout program in which he was throwing at least 120 pitches five days a week, Whitson says he’s ready to start the season today.

“New York’s the only place I didn’t pitch well,” Whitson said. “I know I can pitch anywhere else. As long as they got a fishing hole, I’ll go.”

Still, with free agency two years away, Whitson’s options are limited. He could ask for a trade, but the Padres certainly can refuse. He could walk out of camp, but that’s not the way he operates.

“I’ve never been one to take a stance like that,” Whitson said. “It’s not my ethics to do something like that. When I’m ready, I’m ready. I didn’t even want to miss a day of camp.

“But I can’t say I didn’t think about it.”

Was McIlvaine worried that Whitson would be a no-show?

“Hey, you only hurt yourself, you don’t hurt me,” McIlvaine said. “I’m not going to get down on my hands and knees and beg him to camp.”

Perhaps, Whitson says, everything will be resolved after a face-to-face meeting with McIlvaine today. He’s going to bring up reliever Larry Andersen’s two-year, $4.35-million contract, and remind McIlvaine that Andersen will celebrate his 38th birthday in two months. And he might just drop a hint about teammate Calvin Schiraldi’s contract. Although Whitson has won 21 more games for the Padres than Schiraldi over the past two years, Schiraldi is making $740,000 this season, and could easily pass Whitson next year.

“I’m just going to ask to be treated fairly,” Whitson said. “But it’s a business. There’s really little I can do.”

Although the Padres signed a two-year extension with the city of Yuma for spring training, they hardly made it sound like this is an enchanting arrangement.

“There are some shortcomings here, and we recognize that,” said Bob Wells, Padre vice president of finance. This was a state-of-the-art complex in 1970, and it simply isn’t anymore. . . . Who knows, the Cactus League may not even be here two years from now.

Said McIlvaine: “The biggest problem I see is involving our minor leagues. We have seven minor league teams here, and no one for them to play. We’d like to find a creative solution.”

The city of Yuma, which sought a 10-year lease from the Padres, have agreed to add two more batting tunnels and a half-field, in exchange for the extension.

Shortstop Garry Templeton, who has been captain of the Padres the past four years, has been stripped of his title, Riddoch revealed Monday. Riddoch said that he informed Templeton of the decision Saturday in a face-to-face meeting.

“We’re just not going to have a team captain,” Riddoch said. “I never have liked team captains. It restrains leadership from all other players. Team captains takes away from the team concept of four or five other guys wanting to lead.”

Riddoch also said that Templeton, who lost his starting job to Tony Fernandez, still will be given every opportunity of making the team as a utility infielder. Templeton will be used in camp as a shortstop, third baseman, second baseman and an outfielder.

“We had a good talk,” Templeton said. “This frees me up from being the middle man between the players and management. Now, I can concentrate more on Garry.

“They say they’re going to give me a chance to make the club, and once they see me, they’ll know I can still play this game. I’ll play wherever they want.”

Reliever Rafael Valdez could be delayed getting to Yuma. He is having visa problems in the Dominican Republic, and has been unable to get out of the country. The Padres are hopeful of his arrival by the weekend. Shortstop Tony Fernandez also had visa problems, but Padre officials say they’ve been cleared up . . . The Padres signed four more players to one-year contracts Monday, bringing the total to 28: outfielder/first baseman Jerald Clark, infielder Joey Cora, catcher Tom Lampkin and pitcher Frank Seminara. . . . There were 28 players who reported to camp Monday, including six position players: outfielders Shawn Abner, Jim Vatcher and Clark, Cora, third baseman Scott Coolbaugh, and infielder Kevin Garner.