Padres, Braves Exchange Six

Bret Boone and Ryan Klesko are returning home to Southern California, and Wally Joyner’s heading to his native Atlanta.

The San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves traded the players and three others Wednesday in a six-player deal that helped each team revamp its lineup.

Boone, who was born in El Cajon, and Klesko, who’s from Orange County, joined the Padres, along with minor league pitcher Jason Shiell.

Going to the Braves were first baseman Joyner, second baseman and leadoff hitter Quilvio Veras and left fielder Reggie Sanders.

“I’m looking forward to coming to San Diego,” said Boone, whose father, Bob, and grandfather, Ray, were both big leaguers, Bob spending seven seasons with the Angels. Ray Boone still lives in San Diego.

The Padres lose speed but gain power. With Veras and Sanders, the Braves gain a leadoff hitter and an outfielder to make up for the loss of Gerald Williams, who signed with Tampa Bay. They also get an insurance policy in Joyner in case Andres Galarraga isn’t at full strength after an 18-month layoff during his treatment for cancer.

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Don Fehr, director of the players’ association, said he had not yet chosen a course of action on the Adrian Beltre matter, but the union is expected to file a grievance as early as today, 48 hours after Commissioner Bud Selig’s decision Tuesday to have the Dodgers retain the third baseman.

“We’re still reviewing the facts and circumstances,” Fehr said. “We’ll try and do it promptly, as there is a time sensitivity.

“[But] you have a case in which there’s been a series of events, an investigation undertaken and an opinion rendered. We want to do the proper job analyzing the facts and circumstances.”

Although the grievance process could linger into spring training, Beltre is expected to be in Vero Beach, Fla., for the first workout for position players on Feb. 23.

“We’re not in a position to have players not play baseball,” Beltre’s agent, Scott Boras, said. “I would not advise a player not to play. He’s going to be playing baseball somewhere.”

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Pitcher Hideki Irabu was traded by the New York Yankees to Montreal for minor league pitcher Jake Westbrook and two players to be named. Irabu, 30, was 11-7 with a 4.84 earned-run average in 32 games last season. . . . Right hander Ricky Bones signed a minor-league contract with Florida and will be a non-roster invitee to spring training. . . . Outfielder Thomas Howard agreed to a $650,000, one-year contract with St. Louis. . . . The Boston Red Sox signed free-agent left-hander Jeff Fassero to a one-year contract. Fassero, 36, was a combined 5-14 with Seattle and Texas last season.

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Syd Thrift, Baltimore’s director of player personnel last season, was named the team’s vice president of baseball operations. He replaces Frank Wren, who was fired as general manager in October. After firing Wren, Oriole owner Peter Angelos decided to abolish the position of general manager, taking a more active role himself. Thrift was Pittsburgh’s general manager from 1985 through 1988 and was instrumental in helping the Pirates become a contender in the late ‘80s. He also served as assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs from 1991 to 1994. . . . Only 32 games into his first managerial stint in Puerto Rico’s winter league, Ken Griffey Sr. has quit, the San Juan Star reported. The story said Griffey, who quit after pitching coach Grant Jackson was fired, was upset that General Manager Hector Otero did not keep him informed of personnel changes.

Staff Writer Tim Brown contributed to this story.