Roberts Prepares for Trade : Baseball: Agent informs him Padres will send him to Reds for pitcher Randy Myers.

Bip Roberts, the Padres’ most versatile player, was informed Tuesday by his agent that he will be traded to the Cincinnati Reds for reliever Randy Myers.

The Padres and Reds categorically denied Tuesday night that a deal had been finalized, but a source close to the negotiations said there were only a few details remaining.

“It’s not official yet,” the source said, “but it will be done. It’ll happen before the winter meetings.”

The Padres and Reds had several negotiating sessions Tuesday in which they discussed several proposals. The Padres made an offer that would send Roberts, outfielder Thomas Howard and reliever Rich Rodriguez to the Reds for Myers and outfielder Billy Hatcher, but a source said the deal was rejected. Their final conversation focused on a two-for-two trade, but it did not involve Hatcher.

“We’re still talking,” Padre General Manager Joe McIlvaine said. “Nothing is done yet.”

Roberts, who was informed by agent Scott Boras that the deal “was all but done,” said he will leave San Diego with bittersweet feelings.

“I’m no longer a Padre,” he said, “and that’s kind of sad. But I get a new start, in a new organization, and I can’t wait.

“I’ve still got some friends on that team that I wish well, but there are some guys I can’t wait to play against,” said Roberts, an infielder/outfielder.

Roberts, who was the Padres’ Most Valuable Player in 1990, fell in disfavor with the coaching staff and several of his teammates during the season. He played in only 117 games, batting .281 with 66 runs and 26 stolen bases. Still, the Reds value him as one of the top leadoff hitters in the game, and have been trying to obtain him since the final day of the regular season.

“A lot of people in San Diego supported me,” Roberts said, “but the last year has been tainted because of remarks about my attitude and durability.

“I’m going to play for a new team and a field manager that’s respected in baseball. I’m also looking forward to going to a baseball town. It gives you that extra motivation to play well.

“I’ve been preparing myself for this, anyway. This was supposed to happen the last two years, and now I finally don’t have to worry about it anymore.

“I’m going to be helping the Cincinnati Reds, and I want to make it the Big Red Machine again.”

In other news, McIlvaine said he was not contacted by the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday in their attempt to trade outfielder Barry Bonds to a West Coast team. Although the Padres recognize Bonds’ talent, they realize they don’t have the budget to pay him the necessary $30-plus million it would require to sign him as a free agent in 1992. The Angels, according to a source, are interested, and could offer a package centered around pitcher Chuck Finley.