PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Top Pick Hamilton’s Demands Are Off Base, McIlvaine Says

Padre general manager Joe McIlvaine, who has offered pitcher Joey Hamilton a signing bonus worth about $350,000, said Friday that the organization will not bend to the salary demands of Hamilton and adviser Scott Boras.

Although Boras will not reveal what Hamilton is seeking, sources close to the negotiations say that Hamilton wants at least a $650,000 signing bonus, which No.2 pick Mike Kelly received from the Atlanta Braves.

Hamilton, who was the eighth selection overall, is one of four pitchers left unsigned, and all are represented by Boras.

“That’s really ironic; that’s really coincidental, isn’t it?” McIlvaine said.

It’s unlikely that Hamilton will sign a contract until one of the three pitchers sign ahead of him, setting the market price. Brien Taylor, the No. 1 pick by the New York Yankees, is seeking $1.2 million. Kenny Henderson, the No. 5 pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, also is seeking $1.2 million. And John Burke, the No. 6 pick of the Houston Astros, is seeking at least $800,000.

“If that’s what they want to do, he’s (Boras) not going to get any of his players signed,” McIlvaine said. “Teams are being fair. If that’s not good enough, they can go back into the draft again.

“If they want to play that game, fine, but I’m not playing it. That’s Mr. Scott Boras’ game, but it’s not mine.”

If the Padres fail to sign Hamilton, he’ll re-enroll at Georgia Southern for his senior season. The Padres would have until next year’s June Free Agent Draft to sign him, and if they still failed, they would receive a compensation pick after the first round.

“If someone’s telling him he’s going to get more money next year,” McIlvaine said, “it’s a great disservice to him.”

The Padres, after offering about $250,000 to Hamilton after the draft, increased their offer only after McIlvaine was allowed to talk directly with him. The offer was provided this week, and it probably will be rejected this weekend.

“This year’s draft is receiving about $150,000 more than in the past, and all the picks that have preceded him have received premium signing bonuses,” said Boras, who will become Hamilton’s agent when he turns professional. “You’re talking about a premium college pitcher here, not an everyday player where there’s much more of a risk whether they’ll make it.

“There’s a very unique demand for college pitchers.”

Will it indeed take at least $650,000 to sign Hamilton?

“If that’s the case,” McIlvaine said, “he’s got no chance.” The Padres were on the verge of acquiring starting pitcher Bruce Ruffin from the Philadelphia Phillies three weeks ago in exchange for Shawn Abner, sources confirmed Friday.

The Phillies, however, backed off from the deal when starting pitchers Pat Combs and Andy Ashby went down with injuries.

“They just couldn’t afford to trade pitching when that happened,” McIlvaine said.

The rest, as they say, is history. Ruffin has gone to pitch exceptionally well in six of his seven starts, and has become a hot commodity for pennant contenders. The Padres wound up trading Abner to the Angels for Jack Howell.

McIlvaine had trade talks with several teams up to about an hour before the trading deadline, including the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals. The Padres had interest in infielders Mariano Duncan of the Reds and Kurt Stillwell of the Royals.

The Padres, according to sources, continue to shop starting pitcher Dennis Rasmussen, but they are not close to making a deal. The Padres, as anticipated, traded catcher Brian Dorsett to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a minor-league player to be named. Dorsett, who was up for about a month with the Padres, batted .307 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs at triple-A Las Vegas. . . . Padre pitchers Pat Clements and Atlee Hammaker, each of whom are on the disabled list, pitched soundly without pain in a simulated game. . . . Newcomer Howell was anticipating more playing time--even if that meant platooning with right-handed hitter Tim Teufel. Just Howell’s luck: The Braves are starting all left-handers in this series, which will keep him on the bench most of the series. “I can’t believe it,” said Howell, who entered the game in the seventh inning and collected his first hit in the ninth off reliever Juan Berenguer. . . . Atlanta reliever Jim Clancy, who was acquired from the Houston Astros before the waiver deadline, arrived Friday in Atlanta and pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth inning. “I can’t tell you how good I feel,” Clancy said. “You go from a team who has no hope of winning to a team in the middle of the pennant race, and who wouldn’t feel great?” . . . Braves first baseman Sid Bream, who has been out since June 26 after undergoing knee surgery, was activated Friday. . . . Braves right fielder David Justice, who has been out the past month with back problems, began running the bases for the first time Friday.