BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Slumping Padres Deal With Tigers

The free-falling San Diego Padres traded two slumping players to the Detroit Tigers for shortstop Chris Gomez and pitcher John Flaherty.

The Padres gave up on catcher Brad Ausmus and shortstop Andujar Cedeno, who both began the season as starters but have seen their play tail off in recent weeks.

The Padres had been attempting to trade for a shortstop for several weeks to replace Cedeno, who has been erratic in the field and at the plate.

Ausmus, who signed a two-year $1.4 million contract this spring, had lost his starting job to Brian Johnson. A superior defensive player to Johnson, Ausmus was batting only .181 and Cedeno was batting .234.

With the Tigers, Flaherty batted .250 in 47 games with four homers and 23 RBI. Gomez, who turned 25 Sunday, has played in 47 games, batting .244 with one homer and 16 RBI.

The Tigers also recalled pitcher A.J. Sager from triple-A Toledo and optioned pitcher Bob Scanlan to the minors.

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Former Cincinnati Red star Frank Robinson said he talked to National League President Leonard Coleman to express his interest in becoming chief executive of the Reds--”officially throw my hat in the ring.”

“I think the process is that [owner Marge Schott] recommends people and Coleman either approves or disapproves,” Robinson said. “I have no idea how long it will take, but he said he would pass [the interest] on.”

Under pressure from baseball, Schott has given up daily control of the Reds through 1998. Team controller John Allen is running the club for up to 60 days.