Rasmussen Seeks Free Agency After Padres Look Elsewhere

Dennis Rasmussen, who has the second-longest tenure of any Padres pitcher, filed for free agency Monday after being told he no longer fits in their plans.

“They basically said they were looking at a different direction, whatever that means,” Rasmussen said from his Omaha, Neb., home. “I’m not going to stay somewhere I’m not wanted. I’m going to to see what’s out there.

“I know I’m going to help whoever I’m pitching for, and I thought I did that this year for the Padres. But if they want to show me the door, that’s fine.

“I have a lot to offer anyone. There are a lot of clubs looking for third, fourth and fifth starters, and that’s where I fit in now.”

Rasmussen, with the Padres since June 8, 1988, was one of 21 major league players who filed for free agency the first day of the 15-day period. Also filing Monday was Padres third baseman Jack Howell, along with Bobby Bonilla, Danny Tartabull, Wally Joyner and Frank Viola.

Padres infielder Tim Teufel and pitcher Atlee Hammaker also are expected to file before the Nov. 11 deadline. Teams can contact players who file for free agency, but are not allowed to negotiate until the filing period expires.

Joe McIlvaine, Padres general manager, said the team would pursue Teufel and Howell, but likely would not offer contracts to Rasmussen or Hammaker.

The Padres don’t believe Rasmussen, 6-13, is talented enough to be in their rotation. He has lost 28 games the past two seasons, although his 3.74 ERA this season was the second-lowest of his career.

Barring trades or free-agent signings, the Padres’ starting rotation will comprise Bruce Hurst, Andy Benes, Greg Harris, Ed Whitson and Ricky Bones.

While keeping an eye on the free-agent market, McIlvaine also is awaiting to see if Padres shortstop Tony Fernandez demands a trade during the 15-day period. If Fernandez does, as expected, however, he still has until March 15 to change his mind. He’s scheduled to make $2.1 million in 1992, but if the Padres restructure his contract, Fernandez may rescind his trade demand.

“I really don’t have any idea what he’ll do,” McIlvaine said.

The Padres, still undecided as to how they’ll shape their infield for 1992, have keen interest in re-signing Teufel. They consider him invaluable as a role player, but Teufel said he likely will wait before signing.

“I enjoyed my time in San Diego, and I’d like to stay,”Teufel said. “But I’d like to see what kind of free agent they sign. The contract they offer will probably indicate just how much they want me.”

There are several attractive free-agent infielders available: third baseman Steve Buechele, second baseman Mariano Duncan and shortstop/second baseman Kurt Stillwell. The Padres likely could make an attempt to sign Duncan or Stillwell, and then platoon Teufel and Howell at third base. If they signed Buechele, Teufel could start at second.

McIlvaine also will explore trade possibilities this weekend when he travels to Boca Raton, Fla., for the annual general managers’ meetings.

The Padres have talked several times with the Cincinnati Reds, beginning with the final weekend of the season, about a possible deal involving reliever Randy Myers and center fielder Eric Davis. They have talked with the Boston Red Sox about center fielder Ellis Burks. And they are expected to chat with the Pittsburgh Pirates about outfielder Barry Bonds.

The Pirates, according to a source close to chairman Douglas Dansforth, will attempt to trade Bonds this winter before he’s eligible for free agency in a year. They instead will focus on signing pitcher Doug Drabek to a long-term contract. Bonds said he wants to play for the Padres, but it’s improbable the Padres would have the players to pull off such a trade.

Catcher Benito Santiago and outfielder Bip Roberts continue to be the most likely players the Padres would trade. Santiago is eligible for free agency in a year, and is seeking a contract that would pay him nearly $5 million a year. Roberts is considered expendable because the Padres don’t believe he’s an everyday player.

Although Santiago and Roberts each are represented by agent Scott Boras, whom McIlvaine has publicly criticized, McIlvaine insists personality differences will play no factor in his professional relationship with Boras.

“I don’t have a problem with him and his representation of major league players,” McIlvaine said, “I just have voiced a concern with the way he represents amateur players, and I happen to believe he’s making a mockery of NCAA rules.”

McIlvaine most likely now will keep his true feelings of Boras to himself. He recently was quoted extensively in a story about Boras in Baseball America, and Boras promptly threatened McIlvaine with a lawsuit for defamation of character.

McIlvaine apologized and wrote a letter of retraction to the publication.

The letter, in which a copy was obtained by the Times, states: “I request that you publish the following retraction in your next issue: ‘I completely retract all statements regarding Scott Boras attributed to me in the October 10-24 issue of Baseball America. I do not agree, however, with the tactics employed by Mr. Boras in his representation of amateur athletes.’ ”

In the article, McIlvaine was quoted as saying: “Almost every Boras client underachieves in the majors, and that’s no accident. He takes the focus away from playing and puts in on money. Benito Santiago should be a Hall of Famer, but Boras constantly gets him embroiled in other things.”

McIlvaine said Monday: “I don’t have time to get involved in a lawsuit. The retraction should appear in the next issue.”

McIlvaine instead would like to spend his time structuring the Padres for 1992. He still would like to acquire Tartabull, sources say, and fantasizes about a powerful outfield of Tartabull in left field, Eric Davis in center and Tony Gwynn in right. Randy Myers would be the perfect fit as a stopper. And a Fernandez-Duncan double-play combination would be considered one of the finest in the National League.

“We’ll have to see what happens,” McIlvaine said. “If we sign a Type A or Type B free agent, we want to make sure they’re players who’ll make a big difference.”

Meanwhile, the Padres are evaluating their 40-man roster. They now have 39 players on the roster--first baseman Phil Stephenson was activated Monday. The Padres must submit their roster to the league office by Nov. 20.