PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : For One Reason, Gwynn Sorry to See Cone Go

The Padres were as surprised as everyone else at the Toronto Blue Jays’ acquisition of pitcher David Cone on Thursday.

But at least one Padre was not as happy to get Cone out of the league as you might think.

“He had the best stuff in the league, I think,” Tony Gwynn said. “If we were playing (the Mets) some more, I’d say I was glad he went to the other league.

“But since we’re not, and since they play the Braves four more times. . . .”

He stopped and shook his head. No need to finish.

At the time of the trade, Cone was leading the NL with 214 strikeouts. He was well ahead of Atlanta’s John Smoltz, who was second with 170.

Cone was also tied for the league lead with five shutouts.

Now the question is, can the Blue Jays sign Cone? He is eligible for free agency after this season.

“He’s liable to see some of the players they have up there and like it pretty well,” Manager Greg Riddoch said. “They have some good ones.”

As for another key moment in the baseball pennant race--Deion Sanders’ decision to stay with the Atlanta Braves rather than report to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons--Gwynn was surprised.

“I thought for sure he would want to play football,” Gwynn said. “But you take a beating in the NFL.

“Unfortunately for us, he’s hit us pretty well.”

Responding to a report that pitcher Bruce Hurst was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins, General Manager Joe McIlvaine would only say that all of the Padres have been put through waivers and two pitchers were claimed. He would not identify which two.

Andy Benes, who is suffering from a swollen middle finger on his pitching hand, will have his start moved back to Tuesday in St. Louis.

“I could throw (tonight),” Benes said. “But with (Greg Harris, Jim Deshaies and Craig Lefferts) going on their normal five days’ rest, this is a good time for me to take a break.

“I feel a lot better. It’s just a matter of keeping the swelling down.”

More injuries: Second baseman Kurt Stillwell was scratched from the lineup before the game because of a sore lower back.

Also, infielder Tim Teufel was unavailable Friday because of a sore back. Riddoch said Teufel will be available tonight.

“I don’t want to push him one day early,” Riddoch said. “Maybe by (tonight) . . .”

And, pitcher Larry Andersen is still unavailable because of a sore elbow. Riddoch is hoping he can return next week.

Despite having eight at-bats this week, outfielder Oscar Azocar has taped the word “Vacation” on his bat.

So the Padres had a pregame ceremony on Friday in which they named their mascot: Bluepper.

Three questions:

1. Not to be picky, but they waited to name the thing with only a month to go in the season?

2. Did Mayor Maureen O’Connor really have to issue a proclamation proclaiming “Bluepper Day in San Diego?”

3. Bluepper? And they expect kids to spell correctly these days?

Ryan Knowlton, 7, was the winner of the naming contest conducted by the Padres and KUSI-TV.

Dave Eiland--remember him?--allowed six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings as triple-A Las Vegas lost to Colorado Springs, 12-3. Eiland is 4-3 for the Stars.