Bilardello Takes the Padres to Arbitration

Catcher Dann Bilardello will take the Padres to an arbitration hearing today in Los Angeles to settle his contract dispute.

Bilardello, seeking the lowest salary among major league players in arbitration this year, $235,000, says he simply is looking for respect. The Padres have offered Bilardello $125,000--$16,000 more than the minimum salary.

“I don’t understand what they’re doing,” said Bilardello, who batted .269 with five RBIs in 15 games. “I know I’m a capable backup catcher, and they told me and my agent that I may be playing a lot depending on what they do with Benito (Santiago). It feels kind of stupid to be involved in arbitration, but I have pride, too.”

Said Padre General Manager Joe McIlvaine: “It’s a rather simple case. Their case is that he’s a four-year service guy; ours is, ‘How can you double the salary for a guy who had 26 at-bats?’ ”

The Padres made an attempt Thursday to settle the case by offering Bilardello about $165,000, but the offer was rejected by agent Dick Moss.

Santiago, the Padres’ starting catcher, has gone to arbitration each of the past three seasons, winning his case Wednesday for $3.3 million.

In other news, Harding “Pete” Peterson, 62, has been added to the Padres’ scouting staff. Peterson spent 30 years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, and was head of their baseball operations from 1976-1985. He also was general manager of the New York Yankees in 1990.

Peterson, who was hired by Padre scouting director Reggie Waller, will scout Florida spring training, the Class A Florida State League, and the Florida Instructional League.