PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : Santiago to Return From Triple-A as Bilardello Heads for the DL

Padre catcher Benito Santiago will return from his rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas today and catcher Dann Bilardello will be placed on the disabled list with a herniated disk in his neck, a source said Friday.

Bilardello cleared waivers Friday. The Padres had been planning to release him but, because Bilardello has been playing with a sore neck for most of the season, they decided to place him on the disabled list instead.

Both Padre General Manager Joe McIlvaine and Manager Greg Riddoch said Santiago would return either today or Sunday.

When asked if Santiago would be in the lineup if he were recalled today, Riddoch said: “I would think so. I don’t know if he can get here in time.”

Today’s Phillie-Padre game begins at noon.

Santiago, who has been out since breaking the little finger on his right hand on May 30, went 2-for-4 at Colorado Springs on Thursday night with a home run and two RBIs.

A familiar face joined the Padres in uniform for batting practice: pitcher Greg Harris, who has been out since breaking his right midle finger on June 21.

Harris, who still probably will not be back until September, played long toss for the first time. Two small screws remain in his finger, which is still protected by a splint.

“It feels good to be back on the field,” Harris said. “I stretched it out as far as I could.”

Harris said he will continue playing long toss and will also attempt to throw off of the mound some with the splint still on his finger.

It has been a rough season for Harris. Before breaking the finger, he was on the disabled list with a bad back. He was off the DL for about an hour before being injured again.

“It’s tough, man,” he said. “It’s tough just sitting around, knowing it’s summer. You wait all winter to play and, all of a sudden, you can’t.”

Harris, who said there isn’t much pain in his finger, is 2-4 with a 4.05 ERA in 12 starts this season.

“I think the flexibility has come along a lot quicker than they thought,” he said.

The Padres acquired pitcher Christopher Maffett from the Cleveland organization as the player to be named in the Thomas Howard trade. Maffett, a 19-year-old right-hander, was at Burlington, N.C., in the Appalachian Rookie League. He will be assigned to the Padres’ Spokane affiliate in the Northwest League, also a rookie league.

Maffett was the 1991 Indiana state high school player of the year. He was 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA at Burlington in five appearances--all in relief. In 7 2/3 innings, he had allowed three runs, five hits, five walks and struck out nine. Opponents were hitting .192 against him.

The Padres earlier received infielder Jason Hardtke in the deal.

Familiar faces, part II: Former Padre Manager Dick Williams, in town for this weekend’s All-Star FanFest and Monday’s Heroes of Baseball old-timers’ game, stopped by the Padre clubhouse before the game to say hello to traveling secretary Doc Mattei.

Asked when the last time he was in the Padre clubhouse, Williams paused, looked at Mattei and asked: “When was the last time they kicked me out of here?”

After another pause, Williams then laughed and said: “Read my book.”

There has been a slight change in Monday’s festivities. Originally, Williams was scheduled to manage the NL old-timers and former Padre Manager Jack McKeon was scheduled to manage the AL old-timers.

Now, Bob Lemon will manage the AL and McKeon will be one of the coaches under Williams.

“Since I was the manager when we won in 1984, I’m the natural choice,” Williams said.

Despite Jim Deshaies’ impressive performance Thursday, Riddoch said Dave Eiland will keep his fifth spot in the starting rotation. Eiland, who missed his start Thursday because he is on the disabled list with a sprained ankle, is scheduled to start again July 20 in Philadelphia.

Riddoch said Deshaies’ role, if any, has not been determined.

“We haven’t planned 10 days ahead,” Riddoch said. “We can use him in relief, or if something happens to someone he can spot start.”