PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Padres Keep Seattle’s Gene Harris From Joining the NFL With Trade

The Padres, convinced they have talked pitcher Gene Harris out of a career in the NFL, acquired the Seattle Mariner right-hander Monday when they traded away minor-league outfielder Will Taylor.

Harris, who has quit baseball twice in the past year, the latest a week ago when he threatened to try out in the NFL, will join the Padres Wednesday in New York.

Harris, 27, is on the disqualified list and does not have to be activated for 30 days. During that time, he’ll travel with the team, participate in all workouts, and the Padres will determine just how they’ll use him.

“I’m glad to get out of there,” Harris said. “It’ll really be beneficial to me. I won’t be uptight all the time like I was in Seattle.

Harris, who has two years of major league service with the Montreal Expos and Mariners, has been used as a starter and several roles in relief. He was told 10 days ago that he would leave the bullpen and join the rotation. He then asked for permission to leave the team to attend the funeral of his father-in-law, whom he said died in Florida.

He was granted permission. Then the Mariners read in the newspapers that Harris had decided to quit baseball and embark on a career in the NFL as a defensive back. There was no funeral.

“It was a smoke screen,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. “He just wanted out of Seattle.”

The Padres, who had already called the Mariners last week in an attempt to trade Taylor, asked for permission to talk with Harris themselves. They were provided 72 hours. Padre scouting director Reggie Waller, who knew Harris, arranged a private meeting in Los Angeles. Harris agreed that if he was traded, he would forget all about football.

Hello, San Diego.

Goodbye, NFL.

“My first love all along was baseball,” said Harris, who was a defensive back at Tulane University. “If there was anything that possibly could be done that would allow me to continue playing baseball, I would. But if I had to stay in Seattle, I was gone.”

Just what was so wrong with Seattle?

“No knock against them,” Harris said, “but they didn’t know how to use me. They had me in every role possible. Some pitchers can make that adjustment, I couldn’t.

“I’ve always had the most success as a short man, and that’s where I want to be kept.”

Harris could be the Padres’ right-handed setup man if reliever Larry Andersen’s injury is worse than diagnosed. Andersen, on the disabled list with a bruised forearm, will be examined today by Dr. Richard Eaton, a hand specialist who mended pitcher Bob Ojeda’s severed finger.

“This is a little like the Gary Sheffield trade,” McIlvaine said. “He wanted out of Seattle in the worst way, just like Sheffield wanted out of Milwaukee. We’re hoping he blossoms the same way. We know he has a great arm.”

Harris, who was traded to Seattle with pitchers Randy Johnson and Brian Holman for Mark Langston on May 25, 1989, was 0-0 with a 7.00 ERA this season. He has a 3-7 record and 5.38 ERA in his career, allowing 117 hits in 113 2/3 innings.

“We’ll see where he fits,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “Besides, he’ll be nice to have in case we need to intercept a pass late in the game.”

Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn, along with New York Met outfielder Bobby Bonilla and Yankee outfielder Danny Tartabull, kicked off the 1992 All-Star balloting Monday in a Manhattan press conference.

While each filled out their ballots in public view, Gwynn raised a few eyebrows when he selected catcher Tom Pagnozzi of the St. Louis Cardinals over teammate Benito Santiago.

“Hey, I was just picking who’s having the best season,” Gwynn said. “Nothing personal.”

Indeed, Santiago entered Monday’s game hitting only .210 with two homers and a league-high six errors. Pagnozzi, last year’s Gold Glove winner, is batting .317.

So why didn’t Gwynn be diplomatic and just fill out all of his own teammates like Bonilla did when he selected all Mets.

“He’s not stupid,” Gwynn said. “He’s got to live here.”

Gwynn’s selections for the 1992 All-Star Game, playing July 14 in San Diego:

National League: Fred McGriff, first base; Ryne Sandberg, second base; Tony Fernandez, shortstop; Gary Sheffield, third base; Pagnozzi, catcher; Barry Bonds, Ron Gant and Andy Van Slyke, outfield.

American League: Mark McGwire, first base; Roberto Alomar, second base; Cal Ripken, shortstop; Robin Ventura, third base; Mickey Tettleton, catcher; Ken Griffey Jr., Dave Winfield and Shane Mack, outfield.

Gwynn arrived in the clubhouse Monday, informed McGriff, Sheffield and Fernandez that they had his vote, and said: “So if you guys don’t get voted in, don’t blame me.”

Although the Padres still are strongly considering bringing rookie right-hander Frank Seminara up to the big-league roster in a week, they’ve decided to give left-hander Craig Lefferts at least one more start.

The Padres just don’t know when Lefferts will make that start. It will be Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday against the Pirates, or Tuesday against the New York Mets.

It’s possible he may start Friday, and push Greg Harris back a day in the rotation. Harris has struggled his past two starts, going 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA. Padre pitching coach Mike Roarke worked with him on his pitching mechanics Monday, trying to resolve the control problems he has with his curveball.