PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Third Baseman Buechele Shows Interest in Move to San Diego

Steve Buechele of the Pittsburgh Pirates, considered one of the finest third baseman in baseball, has discreetly informed the Padres that he wants to sign a free-agent contract with them, according to a source within the Padre organization.

The Padres are prohibited from saying anything publicly, but sources within the organization said Tuesday that the Padres have discussed pursuing Buechele.

Alan Meersand, Buechele’s agent, said Tuesday that Buechele will file for free agency at the conclusion of the World Series, and openly has discussed his desire to play for the Padres.

“There’s no question that’s the team he wants to play for,” Meersand said. “He and his wife are from Fullerton, and San Diego would be the ideal place. I’ve discussed the Padres in detail with him. You don’t have to sell San Diego to him.

“If all things are equal, San Diego is the place he wants to come.”

The Padres, who have used seven different third basemen this season, have publicly said they will search for a third baseman in the off-season. If they do not acquire a third baseman in the off-season, they likely will platoon Jack Howell and Tim Teufel at the position next season.

It’s unknown how much it would cost to acquire Buechele. Meersand and the Texas Rangers had a brief conversation during the summer in which Meersand mentioned Ranger pitcher Bobby Witt’s three-year, $7.3-million contract as an example of Buechele’s worth, but it was the last time the two sides talked.

“That was also before Steve continued to have the best year of his career,” Meersand said. “I’ve also had scouts and scouting supervisors tell me he’s only going to get better. And you’re not going to find a better guy in the clubhouse.

“Without a doubt, he’s the premier third baseman on the market.”

The only other highly rated third basemen who are eligible for free agency this winter are Brook Jacoby and Carney Lansford of the Oakland Athletics, and Mike Pagliarulo of the Minnesota Twins.

“Who would you rather have?” Meersand said.

Buechele, who was traded in August to the Pirates, set the American League fielding record for third basemen this season with a .991 fielding percentage. He made only three errors in 329 total chances this season. He batted .267 with 18 home runs and 66 RBIs for the Rangers, and .268 with two home runs and 16 RBIs since his trade to Pittsburgh.

Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Sept. 18, astonished his teammates and a host of reporters taking batting practice Tuesday.

It was the first time Gwynn stepped into the cage since his surgery, and yes, brought up immediate speculation that Gwynn will attempt to return before the season’s conclusion.

“I know you guys don’t believe it,” Gwynn said, “but I won’t be back.”

Although Gwynn swung as good as he has in months Tuesday, he won’t have the stitches in his knee removed until Saturday, and he says that won’t provide him enough time to recuperate.

“I’m doing what I normally do,” Gwynn said. “I’m not going to come here and just sit here. I wanted to do something. Believe me, if I could come back, I would.”

Said Merv Rettenmund, Padre batting coach: “It’s unbelievable how good he looked in the cage. It’s the best he’s looked in two months.”

Padre starter Bruce Hurst, who lasted only one inning in his last start Sept. 17, because of a tender left elbow, now is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Hurst, who has been taking anti-inflammatory medication, has thrown only once on the side, and is expected again to throw on the side again if his elbow improves.

“If it gets better, I’ll go one more time,” Hurst said. “If it’s not better, I don’t know what will happen.”

Padre Manager Greg Riddoch, however, was skeptical of allowing Hurst to pitch again this season.

“We want to see how his arm responds,” Riddoch said. “I’m not going to rush him out there for just one start just for the sake of getting him out there. It’s not worth it.”

Hurst was 14-5 with a 3.23 ERA on Aug. 7, but was able to win only one of his final eight starts.

Joey Hamilton, who officially signed his $385,000 contract Tuesday as the Padres’ No. 1 draft pick, passed his physical and stopped by the Padre clubhouse to meet what he hopes are his future teammates.

“If I do what I’m capable of doing and do my job,” Hamilton said, “I don’t see any reason why I can’t be given a chance in the next year or year and a half.”

Although Hamilton missed all of this year, which is expected to impede his progress, Hamilton says that his three years at Georgia Southern should make up for any time missed.

“I don’t think it hurt me that much because I’ve been working out,” Hamilton said. “Plus, being the fact that I’m a college player, I had three years to develop.”

“Really, I don’t think it will hurt me at all,” said Hamilton, who’s scheduled to report today to the instructional league in Arizona.

Hamilton, who’s scheduled to begin pitching in the instructional league this year, said he still is somewhat surprised he signed. He was set to go to his 8 a.m. history class last Thursday when his mother called, and told him to hold off for a day. By that evening, Hamilton agreed to his contract.

“It was too scary, it was that close,” Hamilton said.

Randy Smith, who accepted a job Monday as the assistant general manager of the Colorado Rockies expansion team, will leave his job as the Padres’ scouting director within the week. Smith, who has been with the Padres since 1984, could have only left, he said, if provided a promotion. Several Padre scouts are expected to follow him to Denver. . . . Although Larry Corrigan, the Minnesota Twins’ West Coast supervisor, is expected to be a leading candidate to replace Smith, Twins general manager Andy MacPhail said Tuesday the Padres have not asked for permission to interview Corrigan.