Tim Teufel Has a Curious Taste in Employers--the Padres : Baseball: Infielder could have gone to Twins during pennant stretch last year, and he could have signed with Reds or Giants during off-season. But he returned to San Diego.

Someone give Padre infielder Tim Teufel a senility test. Or a sobriety test. Something must be wrong.

Teufel could have been wearing a 1991 World Series ring when he arrived Thursday at spring training. He could have had an extra $120,000. He might have even spent time on the banquet circuit.

Teufel actually turned down an opportunity last year to be traded in the pennant stretch to the Minnesota Twins. And he continued to puzzle this winter.

He ruined perhaps another chance to be in the World Series when he dismissed overtures from the Cincinnati Reds, the preseason favorites, and then rejected a lucrative proposal from the San Francisco Giants.

What paradise created this foolishness?

The Padres.

Really.

“I’m not going to second-guess myself,” Teufel. “I never looked back at anything I’ve done in my baseball career, and I’m not starting now.”

Teufel, an eight-year veteran, concedes his decisions are worth scrutiny. The underlying reason he wanted to stay in San Diego was to prove he was an everyday player.

So what happens? He played every day in September for the Padres and batted .165, feeling rotten. He finished with a .228 average, the Padres fell out of the race, and the Twins won the World Series.

“I’m not saying I never thought about it while I watched the World Series,” Teufel said, “but I still was glad I stayed. Who knows how much I would have played in Minnesota.”

The saga was only starting. Teufel filed for free agency, was courted by several teams and decides to return to be an everyday player. Oops. In the week before spring training, the Padres trade for third baseman Craig Worthington and sign free-agent second baseman Kurt Stillwell.

Goodby, guaranteed starting job.

Hello, uncertainty.

“I’m not disappointed, or upset what happened,” Teufel said. “I was never promised anything, or at least, promised-promised anything. It’s nothing unusual.

“The strange part, I guess, was how my scenario unfolded.”

Teufel, traded to the Padres last May for Garry Templeton, was closer to a regular with the Padres than he was in the 5 1/2 previous seasons in New York. It was as if he found new life, platooning at third base with Jack Howell or starting at second. He was contributing, and he was having fun.

Along came the stretch drive, and the Twins realized they could use another pinch-hitter. Teufel was one of their own, anyway, signed and developed in the Twins’ organization, and they believed he would be perfect for their playoff roster.

The Twins telephoned Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, and offered two minor-league prospects for Teufel. McIlvaine wasn’t thrilled with the offer, but he knew Teufel would be a free agent, anyway.

In a unique move, McIlvaine left the decision to Teufel. He told Teufel how much he admires his abilities, but let him determine whether he wanted to play the final month for a pennant contender.

“Remember, there was no guarantee Minnesota was going to win it,” Teufel said. “I know they were up by nine games, but they still could have been knocked off in the playoffs. I went home that night, talked it over with my wife, and started to pray.

“The power of prayer is strong, and I was looking for guidance and direction.”

The next morning, the decision was clear. He was going to stay in San Diego.

“When Tim came to see me,” McIlvaine said, “I knew his mind was made up. He was very definitive in what he wanted to do.

“I was hoping he’d want to stay, but I didn’t want to encourage him one way or the other.”

It was McIlvaine’s gesture, unprecedented in Teufel’s career, that helped convince him to return. He could have made more money than the $1.45 million he’ll receive over two years from the Padres. Cincinnati and maybe San Francisco might be stronger on paper than the Padres.

“But I also know I made the right decision,” he said, “I think I showed a lot of loyalty to San Diego, and they showed a lot of loyalty back. I want to stay right here, prove I can play every day, and play for a winner.

“We learned from Atlanta and Minnesota that you don’t have to have a ton of superstars to win. The key is playing together, that’s what the game’s all about. I think it’s going to all work out.

“I’ll just have to go out there and fight for my job, that’s all. I’ve got to prove myself every day of camp.

“So really, what’s new?”