PADRE NOTEBOOK : Harris, Benes Won’t Get Wage They Deserve

Joe McIlvaine, calling himself the most honest general manager you’ll ever meet, acknowledges that Padre pitchers Greg Harris and Andy Benes deserve more money than the club is offering.

He won’t, even for a moment, try justifying the club’s contract offers to the talented, young pitchers of the starting rotation.

After all, they’re likely going to be paid less than half the salary of journeyman reliever Calvin Schiraldi, who earns $740,000.

But yet . . .

“That’s the way the system works,” McIlvaine said. “Andy and Greg have to remember that this is the system that was designed by the players association. Obviously they like it, because the players association certainly didn’t complain about it a year ago when they had the chance.

“It’s hard to tell players to be patient because of what’s going on. There are lots of guys being overpaid out there just because of their situation. There are guys who have over-inflated contracts like Calvin Schiraldi (3-8 with a 4.41 ERA last season), but because he had the right to arbitration, he was able to get a $140,000 raise.

“We can’t pay money like that to Andy and Greg at this time, but they’ll get their chance.”

Harris, who earned $175,000 last season, and Benes, who made $130,000, each have the disadvantage of not having a bit of leverage. Neither was eligible for arbitration because neither has not been in the major leagues for three seasons. And unless they reach an agreement with the Padres by March 6, McIlvaine has the right to renew their contracts at any sum he wishes.

“I think we’re going to go to the last few days with each of them,” McIlvaine said.

Harris, who will be in the Padres’ starting rotation this season, is seeking a contract comparable to that of Ramon Martinez of the Dodgers and Rob Dibble of Cincinnati. According to sources, Dibble and Martinez have been offered $425,000. Benes, who was 10-11 in his rookie season last year, sources said, is seeking a contract that will pay him at least $300,000.

Sorry, McIlvaine says, but they’re going to have to wait.

“Hey, we have the leverage for three years, and they it thereafter,” McIlvaine said. “It’s a shame. But the way the system’s set up, you can’t always reward performance.”

“From a business standpoint, I know what’s going on,” Harris said. “I can’t blame them. They have leverage, and they’re going to use it.

“I don’t have to like it, but it’s part of the game.”

Benes also recognizes the peculiarities of the system, and just like Harris, patiently plans to wait until close to the March 6 deadline.

“I’ll initiate the boundaries when I talk to Joe in the morning,” said Scott Boras, Benes’ agent, “and after that, I’ll try to get a word in edgewise. There’s not a whole lot you can do but hope they treat you fairly.”

The Padres also have 10 other players still unsigned, including outfielder Shawn Abner, and pitchers Derek Lilliquist and Rafael Valdez.

Padre shortstop Garry Templeton, realizing he can be traded at a moment’s notice, arrived in camp Wednesday with the aspiration of proving a whole lot of folks wrong.

Templeton, who has been the Padres’ starting shortstop the past nine years, has been relegated to the role of a utility player. Even worse, the Padres aren’t even assuring him of a job, saying only that he has as good a chance as Joey Cora and Paul Faries.

“I know I was bitter at first,” Templeton, 34, said, “and considered the whole thing a slap in the face. But right now, I want to be a Padre. I want to be their super-sub for all positions. I know I can still play, and I want to prove I can accept this thing.”

The Padres have been privately worried about Templeton’s attitude ever since they acquired All-Star shortstop Tony Fernandez during the winter meetings. Sure, he’d be a fine backup, they say, but he also could be a detriment in the clubhouse.

“Hey, I thought this was going to happen three years ago,” Templeton said, “so I should be grateful it took this long. They went out and made themselves a good deal getting a good, young shortstop like Fernandez.

“But I know I can still play, too. We haven’t had a backup shortstop in seven years, so I’d think they’d be happy they have me.”

Said Padre Manager Greg Riddoch: “All I can say is that he’s vying for that utility role, and really, it was something we were planning to do three years ago.

“He’s going to get a fair chance.”

Padre pitcher Larry Andersen, 38, his body aching from fatigue after the first day of workouts, arrived to the clubhouse Wednesday and frantically began searching for a spring-training schedule.

What gives?

“Hey, I just want to know how many days I got left in spring training,” he said. “Geez, at this point, I’ll do anything for a day off.

“Anyone see the weather page, are we going to get rain?”