PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : McRae Gets Kansas City Job; Dobson Was the 2nd Choice

Hal McRae will be introduced as the new manager of the Kansas City Royals today, succeeding John Wathan, a team source said.

McRae was interviewed for the job Thursday night, and the source said the former Royals designated hitter accepted the team’s offer of a two-year deal. The announcement was expected at a press conference this afternoon in Minneapolis.

McRae becomes the first black manager in club history, and the fifth in major league history.

McRae, 45, who played for the Royals from 1976-85 and now is a batting coach of the Montreal Expos, turned down the Royal managerial job in 1987, when it went to Wathan, a San Diego native.

If McRae would have rejected Kansas City’s overture, the Royals would have named Pat Dobson, former Padre pitching coach.

“I haven’t been told anything,” Dobson said Thursday night. “Everything is kind of in a holding pattern right now. Obviously, I’d like to have the job. There’s no secret about that.”

Dobson, 49, who was the Padres’ pitching coach the past three seasons, was passed over for the Padre managerial job at the All-Star break last season in favor of Greg Riddoch.

“We’ll just see what happens,” Dobson said. “But I like Mac, we’ve always gotten along. It’ll be a good situation either way.”

If McRae accepts the job offer, he’s expected to ask ex-teammate Amos Otis to join his staff. Otis was the Padres’ former batting coach and was fired by Riddoch at the 1990 All-Star break.

“I’d probably want him as my outfield coach and baserunning coach,” McRae said. “I can’t think of a more qualified candidate.”

Left-handed starter Dennis Rasmussen, who finished his rehabilitative stint in triple-A Las Vegas, joined the Padres on Thursday night and will be activated in time for Saturday’s game against the Houston Astros.

“I feel great right now,” said Rasmussen, who has been on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left shoulder. “I know my numbers weren’t great (1-3, 5.47 ERA), but I didn’t think numbers were that important down there.

“I’m really in a goove now.”

The Texas Rangers signed pitcher Eric Nolte to a triple-A contract. He’ll be assigned to Oklahoma City, where he’s expected to join the starting rotation. Nolte, 3-2, with a 11.05 ERA with the Padres, was signed on the advice of Ranger pitching Coach Tom House. ... Joe McIlvaine, when asked if he was relieved that the Angels signed Fernando Valenzuela to stop the constant questions whether the Padres would sign him: “Nah, if Fernando pitched well, I’m sure people will say, ‘Oh, those dumb Padres.”’ ... McIlvaine, on the recent rash of clubs hiring within their organization for managerial replacements: “This is wonderful. You’ve got to develop your own people. I’ve always believed that, not just for players, but managers, coaches and front-office people.”