Padres Acquire Mason for Reliever Maddux

The New York Mets, taking advantage of the Padres’ winter clearance sale, grabbed another bargain Thursday by acquiring right-handed reliever Mike Maddux.

Finding themselves against another self-imposed deadline, the Padres had to trade Maddux by Sunday or allow him to become a free agent by not tendering a contract. They simply refused to pay Maddux the projected $1 million he might earn in arbitration this winter.

The Mets, who already acquired All-Star shortstop Tony Fernandez from the Padres two months ago, were standing in line once again. They only needed to send journeyman reliever Roger Mason and Class A reliever Mike Freitas to the Padres.

While the statistics of Mason and Freitas hardly are overwhelming, the most important numbers might have been those attached to the contracts the Padres were assuming. Mason is signed to a $300,000 contract for the 1993 season, but it is not guaranteed, allowing the Padres to release him in spring training without compensation. Freitas will be assigned to double-A Wichita.

“It’s going to be nice going to a competitive situation again,” said Maddux, “a club that’s actually committed to winning. They’re willing to spend that one more dollar to win that extra game.

“I don’t know what’s going on in San Diego, and I don’t think anyone else does either. It’s sad to see what’s happening. I feel sorry for the friends I have there.”

Maddux was considered Joe McIlvaine’s best find since becoming general manager two years ago. They signed him to a minor-league contract at a luncheon in Las Vegas, and Maddux wound up being their most dependable middle reliever, posting a 2-2 record and 2.37 ERA last season.

The Padres, however, projected that Maddux would double his $510,000 salary in arbitration.

Maddux becomes the latest departure from the Padre bullpen, joining Randy Myers, Larry Andersen and Jose Melendez. It leaves the Padres with one of the most inexperienced bullpens in the big leagues.

Mason, who was released in the off-season by Pittsburgh before signing Dec. 2 with the Mets, actually had more saves (eight) last season than the career totals of the entire Padre bullpen.

“We have to try to find players on any street corner we can,” McIlvaine said. “We need to make an effort to upgrade our bullpen, and we decided we’ll go with the younger players. I think we made a deal that will help us now, and for later.”

The departure of Maddux also reduces the Padres’ budget deficit to about $4 million. They still are hoping to trade starter Bruce Hurst ($2.75 million) and infielder Kurt Stillwell ($1.75 million).

Mason was 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA last season for the Pirates. He was more effective against lefties than right-handers, yielding a .216 to lefties compared to .276 for right-handers. But he also failed to win a single game against the National League West in 1992, going 0-7.

Freitas was 6-3 with a 1.25 ERA in 45 games for Class A Port St. Lucie. He had 24 saves, third in the Florida State League.