There’s a Way Fernandez May Stay : Baseball: Before 3-2 victory over Reds, Padre shortstop says signing Duncan would make him happy.

Padre shortstop Tony Fernandez, who in all likelihood will demand a trade next month, said Friday there’s a move the Padres can make this off-season if they want to virtually assure he will stay.

He still wants the Padres to keep their promise of putting in new turf and installing different dirt in the infield. A few extra bucks on the remaining two years of his contract also wouldn’t hurt.

But before the Padres’ 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, Fernandez said the acquisition of free agent second baseman Mariano Duncan, his longtime friend, would be an important factor.

Fernandez and Duncan have known each other most of their lives, growing up across town from one another in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Even when they turned professional, they played on the same winter-ball team.

“If San Diego signed Mariano,” Fernandez said, “it would make a difference. No, it would make a big difference. That would make me very happy.”

Fernandez also predicts it would give the Padres best double-play combination in the National League.

Said Duncan: “Believe me, if the Padres sign me, Tony’s not going anywhere. It’d be a dream for us to play together.”

Indeed, the Padres are interested in Duncan, according to sources, and Duncan would like nothing better than playing for the Padres.

The Padres twice attempted to trade for Duncan this season, the last time offering starter Dennis Rasmussen and utility infielder Paul Faries. The Reds declined.

This time, the Reds might have no choice. Although they have had one meeting with Tony Attanasio, Duncan’s agent, there appears to be no chance of Duncan returning. Duncan, who is batting .256 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs, knows he will not be a starting player in Cincinnati. All-Star Barry Larkin is at shortstop, and Billy Doran, who signed a three-year, $7.9-million contract last winter, is at second.

“I don’t care about the money, I just want to play,” said Duncan, who earned $1 million this season. “Hey, I love Cincinnati, and the guys are great here, but I want to play. And I know I don’t have a future here.

“I felt like I was stealing money the way I was sitting around and not playing.”

The Padres, according to sources, are interested in signing either Duncan or Kurt Stillwell of the Kansas City Royals to be their everyday second baseman next season. Although Stillwell is a shortstop, he played second base in the Reds system under Padre Manager Greg Riddoch.

It’s unknown which player the Padres prefer, but Fernandez’s sentiments could make a difference, particularly if it means he’ll stay in San Diego.

Fernandez, who was traded to the Padres during the winter meetings from the Toronto Blue Jays, is allowed to demand a trade because he was in the middle of a multi-year contract. Although the provision has been exercised only twice, Fernandez said he strongly is considering leaving.

Fernandez has until 15 days after the conclusion of the World Series to file his request. He can stipulate six teams to which he cannot be traded, and he would forfeit free-agency rights for five years. The Padres then would be required to trade him by March 15 or allow him to become a free agent.

Fernandez, who has option years on his contract for $2.1 million in 1992 and $2.3 million in 1993, said his primary complaint with the Padres has been San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. He has criticized the turf all season, saying the infield dirt makes it difficult to handle routine grounders.

He has voiced his complaints to McIlvaine, who said those problems will be rectified. Yet, Fernandez says he is also is sick and tired of playing with a steady stream of second baseman; the Padres used six this season.

“I’m not saying the money is no consideration at all,” Fernandez said, “but it’s not a big deal. I’m not a greedy pig. The biggest thing to me is I want to be comfortable. And right now, I’ve never been so uncomfortable.

“It’d be nice to have a second baseman I can play with every day.”

The Padres, whose most pressing need in the off-season is finding a bullpen stopper, McIlvaine said, certainly would have a gaping hole if Fernandez (.272, four homers, 33 RBIs) decides to leave. Although there have been rumors that the Padres have been listening to trade proposals involving Fernandez, McIlvaine denied that he has discussed trading Fernandez.

“Obviously, he can force us to make that decision,” McIlvaine said, “but we certainly want him. There’s no doubt about that.”

Fernandez met privately around the All-Star break with McIlvaine and Padre chairman Tom Werner, but there have since been no contract discussions. McIlvaine and John Davimos, Fernandez’s agent, are expected to talk again before the start of the World Series.

“It’s up to Tony,” McIlvaine said. “I understand his complaints, but baseball is a constant game of adjustments. You’ve got to adjust.

“But Tony’s a perfectionist, that’s why he’s so good.”

Meanwhile, the Padres won their 82nd game of the season Friday with their victory in front of a fireworks crowd of 40,882.

Cincinnati’s Jack Morris went 0 for 4 to drop into third place, at .316, in the National League batting race behind Atlanta’s Terry Pendleton (.318) and the Padres’ Tony Gwynn (.317).

Jose Melendez (8-5) was the winning pitcher, allowing four hits and two runs in seven innings. Jeremy Hernandez saved his second game of the season, allowing three hits in the final two innings.

Hernandez, who was called up to the Padres in September, has yet to allow an earned run in the major leagues. He has pitched 14 1/3 innings, spanning nine games. The game ended when Hernandez was able to induce a groundout from Freddie Benavides, stranding Chris Sabo on third and Doran on second.