Padres to Scuttle Tartabull Bid; Davis on Deck

Confident that they’ll soon acquire All-Star center fielder Eric Davis from the Cincinnati Reds, the Padres have abandoned efforts to lure free-agent outfielder Danny Tartabull, according to a highly-placed source.

The Padres, according to the source, told Tartabull’s representatives that the Davis trade is imminent. They have postponed meetings with agent Dennis Gilbert.

The Reds and Padres are discussing a trade that would send infielder/outfielder Bip Roberts, pitcher Jose Melendez and outfielder Thomas Howard to Cincinnati for Davis and reliever Tim Layana, according to two sources. The Padres, who are hesitant trading Melendez, still are deliberating.

Although the Padres have yet to publicly say they no longer will seek to get Tartabull, the power-hitting outfielder has been told that an anticipated meeting with Joe McIlvaine, Padres general manager, is off.

“I just heard the news myself,” Tartabull said. “I don’t know what to say. I’m really disappointed, because everyone knows that’s where I wanted to play.

“I just hope they change their mind.”

Without the acquisition of Tartabull, the Padres will rely on the hope that Davis can return to form. Davis, in the final year of a three-year contract that will pay him $3.1 million this season, is coming off his worst year. He batted .235 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs, playing in only 89 games. Davis had averaged 30 homers and 90 RBIs the previous five seasons, winning three Gold Gloves and two All-Star nominations.

The Padres still are trying to convince the Reds to accept a six-player package for Davis and reliever Randy Myers, according to a source, but the Reds have flatly rejected the offer without the inclusion of catcher Benito Santiago.

The six-player proposal, according to a source, included Roberts, Howard, outfielder Darrin Jackson, starter Ed Whitson, reliever Craig Lefferts and minor-leaguer Robbie Beckett.

“We weren’t interested,” said a Reds executive. “It wasn’t a hard decision on our part. I think we’ll leave it at this, but we won’t do it without Melendez.

“It could be done very quickly.”