PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Padres are Getting Serious in Search for Third Baseman

The Padres, wondering just how much longer they can be patient, have begun a full search for a third baseman.

They continue to have an offer on the table for third baseman Craig Worthington of the Baltimore Orioles, and are interested in third baseman Gary Sheffield of the Milwaukee Brewers.

“Let’s just say we’re enlarging our search,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager.

The Padres, according to a source, have offered left-handed starter Derek Lilliquist and left-handed reliever Rich Rodriguez to the Orioles in exchange for Worthington. They offered the same package during the winter, and the Orioles refused the deal.

“They still seem reluctant to deal,” McIlvaine said.

Worthington, 26, entered Monday’s game against Seattle batting .209 with five RBIs.

The Padres still are unsure how much interest they have in Sheffield, 22, who’s batting .275 with one homer and nine RBIs. Although McIlvaine said Sheffield is one of the most talented players that he has scouted, Sheffield has had a history of attitude troubles with the Brewers.

“He’s got so much offensive talent,” McIlvaine said, “but we just don’t know whether it would be worth the gamble. Certainly, we’d have to do a lot of research.”

The Padres have employed four players at third base this season, and they have combined for a .118 batting average, with three RBIs. In fact, Garry Templeton’s triple Monday night in the third inning was the first extra-base hit by a Padre third baseman this season.

The Padres’ visit to New York today figures to be quite special for at least two members of the Padre organization.

First baseman Fred McGriff will be facing Dwight Gooden, his hometown buddy, for the first time in seven years. And McIlvaine is returning to Shea Stadium for the first time since taking the Padre job last October.

“I’m pretty excited facing Dwight,” McGriff said. “I know there’ll be a lot of people from Tampa calling. And believe me, they’ll be checking out the papers to see how we matched up.”

Gooden still claims to this day that one of the longest home runs he ever surrendered was one hit by McGriff in high school.

McIlvaine, who spent 10 years in the Mets’ front office, knows that although he’s trying to downplay his return, he’ll be bombarded by interview requests the moment he walks into the stadium.

“I’m not trying to beat the Mets more than the Cubs, or anyone else,” McIlvaine said. “It’s only one of 162 games to me.

“The strange thing about going back is not sitting on the first base side. When I sit there and watch Gooden, my first instincts will be to root for him. I’m going to have to change that real quick.”

The Padres have hit only nine homers this season, one fewer than the Chicago Cubs hit last week. The Padres have been out-homered, 21-9, this season, the widest discrepancy in the major leagues.

“I know we’ve gotten by without the homers, but we’ve got to start hitting them,” Padre batting coach Merv Rettenmund said.

Padre center fielder Shawn Abner, who’s in a 2-for-25 slump (.080), and whose batting average dropped to .241, was benched Monday in favor of Darrin Jackson.

“I just have to be more patient,” Abner said. “I’ve been trying to do too much. And you can’t do a thing when you’re swinging at balls over your head and in the dirt.”

Padre catcher Benito Santiago, on being anxious to face the Mets, who have stolen a league-high 29 bases: “I can’t wait to face those guys. You know me, I love challenges. And that’s going to be a great challenge.”

Injury Report: Padre second baseman Bip Roberts wanted to clear up with reporters Monday any misunderstanding over his comments concerning Padre trainer Bob Day with his neck injury. He didn’t mean it to sound like he blamed Day for having a stiff neck Sunday and being unable to play. “That’s not right, “ he said. Roberts was back in the lineup Monday. . . . Padre infielder Marty Barrett, who sustained a gash over his nose Sunday while attempting to bunt, said Monday that doctors discovered a chip in the arch of his nose. Yet, he said that he has no pain, and appeared in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter. “The way I figure it,” Barrett said, “what’s the chance of it happening again. My wife said, ‘Yeah, but if it does, it’s going to be unbelievable pain.’ Hey, if I get hit there again, it’s going to hurt, no matter if I have a new nose.” . . . Padre left-handed reliever Pat Clements, who has tendinitis in his left shoulder, is scheduled to pitch on the side Tuesday in New York. He will miss the Mets’ series, and is questionable for the four-game series against the Montreal Expos beginning Friday.