Maddux, Padres Agree to a $510,000, One-Year Contract

Reliever Mike Maddux, who was unemployed and desperately looking for work a year ago at this time, received the biggest payday of his life Tuesday when the Padres provided him with a one-year, $510,000 contract.

“I didn’t even know what I was going to do last winter,” Maddux said. “Nobody would give me a job. I was begging just for an opportunity.

“Now, look at what’s happened. What can I say, this has exceeded my wildest dreams.”

Maddux, who wasn’t even in the Padres’ major league camp until the final week of spring training, received a $400,000 raise from his 1991 salary. He may not be able to live in the same neighborhood as his brother--Mike Maddux, who just signed for $4.2 million with the Chicago Cubs--but he won’t have to worry about rent money any time soon. The contract settlement also circumvents their scheduled arbitration hearing. Maddux had proposed $620,000 in arbitration, the Padres proposed $400,000, and the sides split the difference.

Maddux was one of the most invaluable pitchers on the Padre staff last season. He was 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA and five saves, obtaining career-highs in virtually every category. He also stranded 37 of 46 inherited baserunners during the season, including 29 of his last 33.

“I want to prove it wasn’t a fluke,” Maddux said. “I think I showed what I could do with a healthy arm, and there’s no reason I can’t improve. The way it stands now, we’re going to have one heck of a bullpen.

“I’m glad to be part of it.”

Considering that Maddux couldn’t find anyone to invite him to camp a year ago, he was one of the biggest comeback stories of the season. He underwent elbow surgery following the 1989 and 1990 seasons, and had trouble convincing folks he was healthy.

Maddux attended a Las Vegas Stars booster luncheon in late February. He walked over to the table where Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, and Ed Lynch, farm director, were seated, and introduced himself.

He then asked for a job.

“Basically he told us he’d been operated on the year before, but that he was sound and had been throwing,” McIlvaine said. “He said he’d just like the opportunity to come down and throw for us, and that he’d pay his own way. We agreed, and said if you make the club, we’ll reimburse you. He did better than that.”

Said Maddux: “It’s like a Cinderella story, only better.”

The signing of Maddux leaves the Padres with four pending arbitration cases: outfielder Darrin Jackson, catchers Benito Santiago and Dann Bilardello and pitcher Greg Harris.