PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Players Proceeding With Care When Financial Future at Stake

The recent lawsuit in which former agent Steve Greenberg was found guilty of negligence while representing Bill Madlock made the Padres once again examine the relationship with their own agents.

“There’s not a player in the game who doesn’t worry about it,” said Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn. “That’s the greatest fear, having nothing to show for your years, and ending up in the newspaper in of those riches-to-rags stories.

“It happened to me once. It won’t happen again.”

Gwynn, who was forced to file bankruptcy in 1987 because of misrepresentation, changed agents. He now is represented by John Boggs of San Diego.

“I made the mistake of letting my agent handle everything,” Gwynn said. “I trusted him too much. It was my fault.

“Now, I’ve got a guy that’s as honest as any guy you’ll meet. He’s my best friend. But I don’t trust him. I can’t trust him. I’ve got a hands-on approach on everything. He laughs about it when I tell him that, but because of what I’ve been through, he certainly understands.”

Said infielder Tim Teufel: “You’ve got to view your agent as a negotiator, and that’s it. What is an agent? In most cases, it’s not a lawyer. It’s not an investment person. It’s a negotiator.

“I think there’s a belief among players that their agents are everything. If you’ve got millions of dollars to invest, I’d think you’d do your own research rather than trust someone with your future.”

The ex-Padre player of the week goes to second baseman Joey Cora of the Chicago White Sox. Cora batted .333 for the week, raising his batting average to .281 for the season.

The Padres gave up on Cora, their No. 1 selection in the June 1985 draft, this spring, believing he didn’t have the makeup to be a starting second baseman. Cora has won the starting job with the White Sox, contenders in the American League West.

If it wasn’t bad enough trading Cora, the Padres also unloaded outfielder Warren Newson and former No. 1 pick Kevin Gardner to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for pitchers Steve Rosenberg and Adam Peterson. Newson also is up with the White Sox, batting .290 with 17 RBIs; Gardner still is in the minors.

For the Padres, Peterson and Rosenberg can be found in triple-A Las Vegas.

Reliever Pat Clements, on the disabled list since April 25 after undergoing shoulder surgery, was assigned to triple-A Las Vegas on a rehabilitative assignment. He’ll join the team today in Las Vegas.

Pitcher Atlee Hammaker, on the disabled list since June 16 with elbow tendinitis, will pitch a simulated game Monday, then be assigned to a rehabilitative stint.

While it has been chic to rip the Padres’ minor-league system over the years, it’s curious why the Dodgers’ image for developing talent continues to be impeccable.

Shortstop Jose Offerman, who was signed in Jaunary 1986, is the most recently signed product to be on their big-league roster. The only Dodger regular who’s a product of the farm system is catcher Mike Scioscia, who was signed in 1976. The last Dodger farm product to be a regular for another team is Franklin Stubbs of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Montreal Expo Manager Tom Runnells, the buddy of Padre Manager Greg Riddoch, on their recent slide: “I can deal with the losses. It’s the losing I can’t handle.”

Whitey Herzog, who has been contacted by several teams about managing in 1992, said he remains uninterested in any of the potential job offers.

“A couple of teams have contacted me, but the right offer hasn’t come around yet,” Herzog said. “I have the urge, but I can’t say I miss it.

“I remember in 1973 when I was with Texas, the Saturday before I was fired, (owner) Bob Short told me I was the best manager he ever had. Of course, the only other manager he ever had was Ted Williams.

“Bob offered me GM job. I told Bob I’d rather spend my time building the club on the field. So the next morning, Bob and I were standing in the dugout, and we heard that Billy Martin was fired (by Detroit). Bob said, ‘I’d fire my grandmother to hire Billy Martin.’

“By next Friday, I found out I was his grandmother.”

The managerial rumor mill:

Angel Manager Doug Rader will be fired Monday morning and replaced by Buck Rodgers. . . . New York Met Manager Buddy Harrelson could be fired by Labor Day. His replacement is expected to be either Mike Cubbage or Doc Edwards, each of whom are on the staff.

Second baseman Bip Roberts showed up Saturday with a broken front tooth, which occurred while eating lunch. “It’s been an unbelievable year,” Roberts moaned. . . . The Reds fired Howie Bedell, their farm director, on Friday. . . . Reds beat writers wore caps in the press box Saturday that read: “Barred by Marge.” Reds owner Marge Schott has banned seven writers and columnists from the dining room this year for negative articles. This has prompted outfielders Eric Davis and Herm Winningham to send pizzas up to the press box. . . . Funeral services for Padre groundskeeper Charley Townsend will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Clairemont Faith Cemetery Church. . . . Outfielder Jerald Clark, who was out of the lineup Saturday with a right ankle, celebrated his 28th birthday Saturday.