Padres ‘Not Close’ to Sale, Smith Says

YUMA, Ariz. — More than three months after the Padres were put on the market, the franchise is still “not close” to being sold, team President Ballard Smith said Tuesday.

“I think some of the people taking a look at it haven’t liked the economics of the business,” Smith said. “When you take a look at the history of the club, it’s not a great investment.”

Yet despite the Padres’ history of losing money, the club is still talking to numerous interested groups, Smith said.

Owner Joan Kroc, Smith’s mother-in-law, announced in late November her intent to sell. The asking price is believed to be $50 million to $65 million.

“We’re actively trying to sell the ballclub,” Smith said. “I’m surprised it hasn’t been sold by now. Our intent is the same--sell as soon as we can. Under proper ownership, this could continue to be one of the premier franchises in baseball. The reason we’re getting out is because Joan doesn’t want to own it and I don’t want to run it.”

Ray Kroc purchased the Padres in January, 1974, when it appeared the team would be sold to a group in Washington, D.C. Smith became vice president in 1977 and president in 1979.

Smith said he plans to remain president until the team is sold.

Earlier this week, Smith cut off negotiations with free-agent outfielder Tim Raines. The Padres previously made Raines a two-year, $2.2-million offer that was rejected.

“Some business people said signing Tim Raines for $2 million would have made the team more attractive (to sell),” Smith said. “To a lot of people, that would make the team more unattractive. It’s not good business judgment.

“It would have been easy to get a few name players and con someone (into buying). It might have been easier to sell. (But) with the condition we were in (last season), this club had to be dismantled and start over.

“I know people are disappointed we haven’t signed Tim Raines,” Smith said. “I ask those people to look at the fact that the only people who made him an offer were the Padres. Even though we didn’t sign him, we made a real effort.”

Raines, the 1986 National League batting champion, was reportedly offered $4.8 million over three years to stay in Montreal before becoming a free agent.

“We knew going in Montreal had made him a good offer,” Smith said. “We didn’t think he was worth that much. We knew there was a risk of fans being disappointed if we didn’t sign him. We took that risk. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a closed case. It’s foolish to say never to anything, so . . .”

How does Smith view the strategy used by Raines and his agent, Tom Reich?

“I think they made a mistake when they didn’t sign with Montreal,” Smith said. “I’ve always felt a player is worth more to the club he is with. When you lose him, you have a hole to fill. I’ll tell you what . . . if someone offers me a pay cut from $1.5 million to $1.1 million, I’ll take it.”

Even without Raines, Smith said the Padres are better than in 1984, when they won their only division title in the team’s 18-year history, and advanced to the World Series.

“Our pitching is better, and our position by position is better. We’re in a division that’s pretty well-balanced. It’s not that strong,” he said. “Who could have predicted Houston would do what it did last year? If this club matures, there’s no reason it can’t do what Houston did.”

Padre Notes

Outfielder Stanley Jefferson’s left wrist will be immobilized for a couple of days because of a soft-tissue injury. However, X-rays Tuesday showed there is no fracture. “That’s a good sign,” said Manager Larry Bowa, who hopes that Jefferson can resume action early next week. . . . Third baseman Kevin Mitchell, bothered by back problems stemming from a bicycle accident, had two hits as Garry Templeton’s team defeated Tony Gwynn’s, 5-1, in an intrasquad game Tuesday. Eric Show, coming off elbow tendinitis, allowed two runs on two hits in one inning. Show said his arm felt fine. Said Bowa: “He (Show) gives 100%, which I don’t want him to do. That’s the whole idea, to get him to back off a little bit.” . . . Show and Dave Dravecky, recovering from similar injuries, will pitch in a B game Friday against the Angels in Yuma. “I want Show and Dravecky to go slow,” Bowa said. “When you get to a stadium, whether there’s 3,000 or 50,000 fans, your adrenaline gets going and you try to do too much. We want them to pitch with 20 or 30 people watching and go slow.” . . . The pitchers in Friday’s exhibition opener against the Angels will be Andy Hawkins, Ed Vosberg and Craig Lefferts. . . . More injury updates: Outfielder John Kruk, suffering from a slightly separated shoulder, played in Tuesday’s intrasquad game. Pitcher Ed Wojna suffered only a bruise when hit in the arm by Shawn Abner’s line drive in Monday’s intrasquad game. . . . Bip Roberts, normally a second baseman, played third base in Tuesday’s intrasquad game. “Maybe he might be a utility player,” Bowa said. “The more positions an infielder plays, the more valuable you are to a team.” . . . Hawkins was the winning pitcher Tuesday, allowing three hits in two scoreless innings. Goose Gossage pitched a hitless inning, walking one and striking out one. Joey Cora scored two runs and stole three bases for Templeton’s team. James Steels stole two bases. For Gwynn’s team, Steve Garvey had a single and double in two at-bats.