Worthington’s Dream Now a Nightmare : Baseball: Padres release former Rookie of the Year, leaving the third baseman to wonder what went wrong. Job now belongs to Gary Sheffield.

Craig Worthington stayed in his hotel room Tuesday morning, waiting for his teammates to depart. He didn’t want to see them on this day.

About 1 1/2 hours after the Padres left on a bus for their game against the Angels, Worthington went to the front desk and checked out--his last official act as a Padre.

Worthington, who just six weeks ago was being hailed as the Padres’ starting third baseman, was released Tuesday morning.

He’ll be paid $58,104.39. The rest of his $235,000 contract was declared void. Just like that, he lost about $175,000.

“It’s been a nightmare,” Worthington said. “They did a total number on me. Never in my wildest imagination did I think this would happen. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

It hardly seems possible that Worthington, The Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year in 1989, is looking for employment.

He’ll have to wait three days to clear waivers. Then he will begin negotiating with teams.

“This whole thing is so hard to swallow,” Worthington, 26, said. “You come here with a job, and then you leave here, and they don’t give you a chance to even prove yourself. I don’t understand it.”

Worthington, who was bothered with a sore buttocks for nearly a week, played in only 14 games, batting .219 with two extra-base hits and three RBIs. The Padres wondered whether his offensive deficiencies could be corrected, and were alarmed that he was not a better fielder.

Although the Padres traded reliever Jim Lewis and minor-league outfielder Steve Martin for Worthington on Feb. 17, they lost faith in him, convinced that even utilityman Craig Shipley was better.

The Padres, who used seven third basemen in 1991, knew they had to search again. When they learned Milwaukee’s Gary Sheffield was available for pitcher Ricky Bones and two minor-leaguers, the Padres jumped.

Hello Sheffield. Goodby Worthington.

“I wish they had done the deal back in December when they were first talking about him,” Worthington said, “instead of giving me the runaround. It didn’t matter what I did in spring training. They were head over heels to get that deal done.

“They already knew what I could do, so why did they waste my time?”

Said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager: “His (Sheffield’s) status was in question then. The Brewers deferred to spring training. We had no way of knowing we’d get this guy. I mean, I was prepared to go with Worthington.

“I just think the whole thing was unavoidable.”

Worthington, who ignored trade reports, dismissed the talk. It wasn’t until Friday afternoon, when the trade was official, that it hit home.

He went into McIlvaine’s office and demanded to be traded. It didn’t matter. The Padres were going to get rid of him, anyway. They didn’t think he was talented enough to bring off the bench, and considering his $235,000 salary, the Padres knew it was too exorbitant for a minor-league player.

They tried for the last four days to trade him to Cleveland, but with the Indians knowing that Worthington likely would be released before Tuesday’s deadline, when all contracts became guaranteed, they decided to wait.

“If he doesn’t find a job,” McIlvaine said, “I’d hope he’d stay with us for reduced wages at triple A. We still like him, but not at that salary.”

Worthington is hoping he doesn’t need to resort to a minor-league contract. He’ll go home to San Diego, try to break the lease on the apartment he and his wife were to rent for the next six months, and wait.

“The whole thing leaves a bitter taste in my mouth,” Worthington said. “All players ask for is a little respect, and they do this to you. It’s tough to respect an organization like that, and I know there are some guys on the team that are displeased with the way things are handled around here.

“You know, the funny thing is, it seemed like such an ideal situation. I was ready to have a lot of fun with this team.

“Then, just when you get to know players, it’s like, ‘See you later.’

“I really can’t believe this is happening.”