NOTEBOOK : PADRES UPDATE : Trade to Padres Frees Howell From Routine as a Spectator

Padre third baseman Jack Howell was unpacking his bags in his new surroundings Wednesday when fellow University of Arizona alumnus Craig Lefferts walked through the clubhouse door.

They immediately embraced, and Howell said: “You can’t believe how good this feels. Man, it’s been tough this season.”

For six months, Howell waited to be traded. The moment the Angels signed free-agent third baseman Gary Gaetti in January to a four-year, $11.4-million contract, he knew his future was bleak. He pleaded with the Angels to trade him, but not until Tuesday was he swapped for outfielder Shawn Abner.

“It wasn’t so bad at the beginning,” Howell said, “because they were platooning me. Then they were using me as a pinch-hitter. Then they weren’t doing anything with me.”

Howell, who missed most of the month of May when he went on the disabled list with a sprained right wrist, had only 81 at-bats with the Angels, including six in the month of July. It’s not quite the playing time you’re seeking when you’re eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

“I thought for one year, I could do whatever they wanted me to do,” said Howell, who earns $652,500 this season, “but then it comes a time when you start looking out for yourself. I didn’t mind starting once a week, and pinch-hitting three or four times, but that was ridiculous.”

The Padres attempted to acquire Howell in the spring, Padre General Manager Joe McIlvaine said, but the asking price was too high. Besides, McIlvaine said, the Angels wanted to keep Howell for insurance.

So Howell played catcher for the first time in his career during spring training. He played left field. He played right field. He played second base.

“I kind of had fun doing that,” he said, “but now it’s time to resurrect my career.”

Howell’s career has stalled the past two seasons. He had a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee in 1990, limiting him to 105 games. And then came this season.

“This is a great game,” Howell said, “but it’s real tough to sit as a spectator. Really, it’s miserable.”

Howell, who will platoon with right-handed hitter Tim Teufel at third, pinch-hit for Teufel in the ninth inning against the Phillies but struck out.

“You know something,” Howell said, “it just felt good to be in a game again.”

Padre reliever Larry Andersen, who has had almost everything go wrong with him this season, is making a drastic adjustment in his life.

He’s getting married. The date is Feb. 8, 1992. The site: Houston. The bride: Trish Wilson.

“Hopefully, I’ll have everything done and settled in my life for next year,” Andersen said. “This year has been a catastrophe. I bought a house, and every single day has been a headache. In hindsight, it was the worst thing that could have happened to me. My whole life, it seems, has been out of order this year.

“We’re going to start searching for wedding sites when we go to Houston, and once we get all the wedding plans out of the way, I think everything will be settled.

“Finally, huh?”

Now, if he can just stay away from those injuries, with the latest occurring on the Padres’ last off day when he slipped and bruised his chest while climbing into his jacuzzi.

“I think I’ll just chain myself to my bed this time,” he said.