Sun City Officials Confident Padres Will Move

Although the Padres still might be months away from making a commitment, Sun City, Ariz., officials were encouraged Thursday that the team will make the Phoenix suburb its spring-training home in 1994.

“I’m very, very optimistic, and I think we’ll be coming to an agreement in the near future,” said Craig Kimmell, president of Fields of Dreams Inc., which owns Sun City Stadium. “We had a very positive, and informative meeting. I don’t know how much more positive it can be.”

Bob Wells, Padre vice president/finance, completed two days of meetings with Sun City officials Thursday before returning to San Diego. He said it could be months before a decision is made, but confirmed that Sun City remains a viable alternative “with no major stumbling blocks.”

Sun City officials sweetened their proposal with amenities to lure the Padres and were encouraged by the Padres’ response. The Padres are expected to continue negotiations in February and could reach an agreement before the start of spring training.

“We couldn’t feel better about what’s going on,” Kimmell said. “We were hoping they could come here in 1993, but they were adamant about not breaking their lease with Yuma. You have to respect them for that.”

Said Padre president Dick Freeman: “We’ve always been treated well in Yuma, but with Cleveland leaving Tucson, and the Angels moving from Palm Springs, everybody’s going to be in the Phoenix area. It goes back to geography. The Yuma people understand that.”

Meanwhile, negotiations between the Padres and free agent infielder Kurt Stillwell continue, with a scheduled meeting today. Although Stillwell apparently is willing to reduce his initial request of a two-year, $5.5-million contract, the Padres would rather sign him to a two-year contract with one or two option years.

“We had a long talk,” said agent Scott Boras, “but we’re insisting on a two-year contract. We’ll talk again and see where we stand.”

The Padres’ biggest concern in obtaining Stillwell is their forfeiture of a No. 1 pick in the upcoming June Free Agent draft to Kansas City, Stillwell’s former team. Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, long has maintained his reluctance of giving up first-round picks for free agents who aren’t considered franchise players.

“That’s why we’re really hoping San Diego signs him,” one Royals official said. “We want their No. 1 pick. We’ll get a sandwich pick for losing Kurt, anyway, but this would be great for our organization, believe me.”

Stillwell is being pursued by three teams, according to Boras, although the Padres are the only team that have made an offer--two years, $3 million.

“We’re going to give everybody fair time,” Boras said, “but I’d like to get this thing done by the end of next week.”