Padres Might Be Near Roberts-for-Myers Deal : Baseball: Other teams interested in Reds’ relief pitcher, but Padres said to have inside track.

The Padres intensified negotiations with the Cincinnati Reds over the holidays and could acquire left-handed reliever Randy Myers within days.

The Padres and Reds, according to a source close to the negotiations, are discussing a deal that would send outfielder Bip Roberts and another player--perhaps outfielder Thomas Howard--to the Reds for Myers.

“I think it could be done very quickly,” the source said. “Something will be done with Myers by the end of the week, either way, and San Diego has the inside track. It’s up to them if they want to make the move or not.”

The Montreal Expos and an unidentified American League team also have made proposals for Myers. The Expos have offered a package centered around outfielder Dave Martinez. The Philadelphia Phillies likely would also make a proposal if they’re unable to sign free-agent reliever Mitch Williams, but they have yet to talk to the Reds.

The Padres twice have offered Roberts to the Reds in a deal for Myers, but have been rejected each time because of their refusal to include a pitcher. This time, however, the Reds no longer need a pitcher.

“They want Roberts pretty badly, and they’ve made that clear,” a Padres source said.

Roberts, a switch-hitting leadoff hitter, would solve the Reds’ needs for speed and a left-handed hitter. The Reds’ 44-63 record against right-handed starters last season was the National League’s worst. If the Reds are successful in acquiring Roberts, they would start him in left field, and use him to spell Chris Sabo at third base and Billy Doran at second.

The Padres, thwarted last week in their attempt to acquire Reds outfielder Eric Davis, all along have had just as much interest in Myers. Joe McIlvaine, Padres general manager, says the Padres’ biggest need is finding a bullpen stopper, and Myers easily is the best available on the market.

Myers, 29, is expendable because of Rob Dibble’s emergence in the Reds’ bullpen. Myers became a starter after the All-Star break, going 6-13 with a 3.55 ERA, striking out 108 in 132 innings. Although he had only six saves, Myers has averaged 27 saves each of the past three seasons.