Waller Agrees to Become Padre Scouting Chief

Reggie Waller, who calls himself an amateur scout at heart, became the highest-ranking minority executive in Padre history Wednesday when he agreed to a contract as scouting director of the Padres.

Waller orally agreed to terms on a multi-year contract Wednesday afternoon in a conference call with chairman Tom Werner and Joe McIlvaine, general manager. The official announcement will be made today, providing Waller time to contact Seattle Mariner officials.

“Joe made a substantial offer to me, and I feel it’s going to be a good situation,” said Waller, 36, who has been the assistant to Woody Woodward, Mariner vice president/baseball operations, the past 14 months. “I’m really looking forward to it. You’re always looking for an opportunity to take it to the next level.”

The Padres, who have 17 positions in the front office, never have had a black executive.

In other news:

- Jim Riggleman, the Padres’ triple-A manager, has emerged as a candidate for the Seattle Mariners’ managerial vacancy. Riggleman, one of at least seven candidates, was interviewed Tuesday.

“I’m flattered they interviewed me,” said Riggleman, considered the heir apparent to Padre Manager Greg Riddoch’s job. “I don’t know what my chances are, but it’s nice to be in consideration.”

Bucky Dent and Don Baylor continue to be the leading candidates for the job, sources said. They also are expected to interview Bob Boone, Gene Lamont, Bill Plummer and Bucky Showalter.

- The Padres have exercised the option on shortstop Tony Fernandez’s contract for 1992, according to a source in the Major League Players Assn. He’s scheduled to receive $2.1 million plus a $10,000 bonus for accepting the option.

Fernandez still has the option to demand a trade after the World Series. If, as expected, he does so, the Padres then would have to either trade him or modify his contract to his satisfaction.

- The Padres have exercised the option on pitcher Ed Whitson’s 1992 contract, which will pay him $1 million.

- Catcher Dan Walters, the Padres’ triple-A catcher, signed a one-year contract. He was eligible for free agency as a six-year minor leaguer.