Sheffield Latest Item in Padres’ Fire Sale : Baseball: All-Star third baseman traded to Marlins for less-expensive players.

Gary Sheffield, the 1992 National League batting champion, was traded to his home-state Florida Marlins on Thursday, becoming the latest San Diego Padre to be shipped away because of an owner-mandated salary purge.

Padre General Manager Randy Smith, on the job only two weeks, said the five-player deal was “a baseball trade.”

But Tony Gwynn, apparently the only untouchable player in the Padres’ clubhouse, scoffed at that notion.

“No, I do not think it was a baseball deal. The decisions they make, they have to answer for. I’m as perplexed as anyone,” Gwynn said. “To see Sheffield go just crushes you. He’s 24. He’s everything you’re looking for in a franchise player.”

Sheffield, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers during spring training in 1992, won the NL batting crown with a .330 average and was named to the All-Star team. He had 33 home runs and 100 runs batted in. This year he is hitting .295, with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs.

While happy to be going to the Marlins, Sheffield, who is making $3.1 million this season, ripped the Padres’ payroll paring.

“To have to leave under these circumstances is tough,” he said as he packed. “It’s not fair to the fans or the city. I figure if you can’t afford a team, you should sell it and not use us as bait. Basically, that’s what they’re doing, and that’s what I feel like, bait.”

The Padres also sent left-handed reliever Rich Rodriguez (2-3, 3.30 earned-run average) to the Marlins for rookie right-handed reliever Trevor Hoffman (2-2, 3.28) and minor league right-handers Jose Martinez and Andres Berumen. Hoffman, who was used as a setup man for Bryan Harvey, will be used in combination with closer Gene Harris, who has 11 saves.

San Diego’s new third baseman will be Archi Cianfrocco, acquired from the Montreal Expos on Wednesday for pitcher Tim Scott.

Hoffman, who makes the minimum $109,000, “is going to be a good pitcher,” Gwynn said. “He’s a high-powered guy at 93-94 (m.p.h.). He’s young. And he fits in the budget, and these days that’s an important factor.”

Marlin General Manger Dave Dombrowski was thrilled with getting Sheffield, calling him “an All-Star player who we can build our offense around for years to come.”

Dombrowski dismissed Sheffield’s reputation for having a bad attitude.

“When you hit .330,” he said, “you’re not surly too often.”

Sheffield’s acquisition means that Dave Magadan will be benched or traded. Magadan signed with Florida primarily because he knew he would play every day.