Cautious Padres Avert Their I’S

The San Diego Padres tried to take their minds off the festering Hideki Irabu situation Thursday by not mentioning the pitcher’s name.

“It’s a non-I day,” said Padres president Larry Lucchino in San Diego. “We’re not talking or focusing on it, we’re not doing anything with respect to it. It’s time to deal with other matters.”

Lucchino said he slipped up and mentioned Irabu’s name in the office, and Dave Stewart, the former pitcher who’s now a special assistant to the general manager, fined him $5.

General manager Kevin Towers didn’t mention Irabu by name, but said he couldn’t give a timetable on when the Padres might make a deal for Irabu’s rights.

San Diego obtained Irabu’s rights in January from the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League, but the star right-hander has refused to negotiate with the Padres. He has repeatedly said he will sign only with the New York Yankees, and his agent, Don Nomura, has told all big-league clubs that Irabu will return to Japan and sit out the season unless he’s allowed to sign with the World Series champs by Tuesday.

The Padres have received offers from nine teams for Irabu’s rights.

No deals yet

The proposed trade of Rickey Henderson from the Padres to the Angels for reliever Chuck McElroy has stalled, and the Atlanta Braves said they might not be able to trade Fred McGriff or David Justice.

San Diego is trying to get rid of Henderson, who doesn’t want to be backup to Greg Vaughn in left.

“It’s kind of on hold now, not that it’s off or dead, and it has nothing to do with Rickey,” Towers said at Peoria, Ariz.

Towers said he couldn’t be more specific. But several other baseball sources said Troy Percival, who converted 36 of 39 save opportunities last season, has discomfort in his back, and the Angels want to see how that situation develops before giving up McElroy.

Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz expects Justice and McGriff to be on the Braves’ opening-day roster.

Going into spring training, speculation was rampant that at least one of them would be traded, allowing the Braves to move Ryan Klesko from left to first base and start young outfielders Andruw Jones and Jermaine Dye while reducing the payroll substantially.

But there is no market for players in the salary range of McGriff, who will be paid $7 million this year, and Justice, who makes $6 million.

Biggio will bat first

It can be dangerous to tinker with success, but that’s what Astros manager Larry Dierker is doing with his batting order.

Craig Biggio has been Houston’s No. 2 hitter for three seasons, batting ahead of Jeff Bagwell. Following the off-season trade of Brian Hunter to Detroit, Dierker decided Biggio will replace Hunter as the Astros’ leadoff batter. New shortstop Pat Listach will bat second.

“To me, Craig’s better than a No. 2 hitter,” Dierker said. “He’s sort of wasted in the No. 2 hole, where he has to give up his power. How many times over the years has he spent taking pitches?”

Biggio, the N.L.’s All-Star starter at second base the past two seasons, hit .288 last season with a .386 on-base percentage, led the league with 27 times hit by pitches and stole 25 bases.

Council ratifies contract wording

Baseball’s ruling executive council approved the text of the new collective bargaining agreement, the final step before the labor deal can be signed.

Owners voted 26-4 on Nov. 27 to approve the outline of the agreement, which runs through the 2000 season with a union option to extend it through 2001. The executive board of the players’ association approved the terms Dec. 5.