Stars will explore options

Friday, Aug. 9, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The San Diego Padres were rated by one baseball publication as having one of the top three minor-league systems based on a wealth of talent at the double-A level, but those prospects may not be playing in Las Vegas next year.

Stars owner Ken Stickney said the Pacific Coast League club will notify the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the governing body of minor-league baseball, later this month of the club's intent to seek reaffiliation.

The notification, which must be made between Aug. 20 and Aug. 26, will allow the Stars to talk with other major-league clubs about sending their players to Las Vegas, but does not preclude them from re-signing a Player Development Contract with San Diego. The Stars-Padres PDC runs through the end of this season.

"We're definitely going to open it up, at least to see what's out there," Stickney said prior to the Stars' 10-2 rout of the Tucson Toros Thursday night at Cashman Field. "It won't be an automatic re-up with the Padres.

"I think right now we're kind of taking a wait-and-see approach. We will evaluate everything after the season. Right now, we're in first place and it certainly seems by all accounts that this is the best team we've ever had (since we have been) here."

The Stars have been the top minor-league affiliate of the Padres since the team moved to Las Vegas in 1983. Stickney and his father, Hank, purchased the team at the end of the 1992 season for a reported $7 million. Stickney said the Stars' long history with the Padres would be one factor in making the decision on who to align with next season.

"I think it's all going to be thrown into the pot; the stability at the major-league level, the relationships, direction and philosophy.

"Two years ago, it took a lot of courage to stay with the Padres and I think we would like to continue the tradition of the last 14 years; I think that will play a part in it."

Also playing a part in the Stickneys' decision is the strong club the Padres have at double-A Memphis. The Chicks won the first-half division title in the Southern League and some baseball experts have called Memphis the best double-A team in recent memory.

Two years ago, when the Stars and Padres extended their working agreement through this season, Ken Stickney had pushed to dump the Padres in favor of the Oakland Athletics, primarily because the A's had a strong double-A team in Huntsville, Ala.

"(A strong double-A team) certainly is a consideration," Stickney said. "You look at that great (1994) Huntsville team and now, who has got the best team in triple-A baseball right now? Probably Oakland.

"There certainly is a correlation between double-A success and triple-A success, even though it is a little bit indirect."

Among the major-league teams reported to be most interested in aligning with Las Vegas next season are the A's and the California Angels -- two organizations that are forced to send their top minor-league players to Canada. California has been sending its triple-A players to Vancouver, British Columbia, for the past four years and Oakland has sent its top players to Edmonton, Alberta, for the past two seasons.

The procedure for clubs seeking new affiliations is a four-step process. Both minor-league and major-league clubs have from Aug. 20 to Aug. 26 to notify their respective governing bodies of their intent to seek reaffiliation. From Aug. 27 to Sept. 5, the Major League Baseball commissioner's office and the president of the National Association provide a list of all clubs -- both major-league and minor-league -- of available affiliations.

Not until Sept. 6 can teams begin discussing the possibility of a new PDC with other clubs. Minor-league officials are prohibited by National Association and Major League Baseball tampering rules from discussing working agreements with major-league teams -- and vice-versa -- until Sept. 6. All new and existing PDCs must be completed by Sept. 25.

Stickney said he has had no conversations with any major-league teams concerning an affiliation with the Stars, but added it is no secret that several PCL teams would jump at the chance to move their triple-A players out of Canada.

"I don't think there is a lot of mystery about who is interested in coming here," Stickney said. "If you think about it, there are only (three) teams that want to get out of their current situation that are a direct possibility. Oakland, Pittsburgh (whose triple-A affiliate is in Calgary, Alberta) and the Angels would be the most likely candidates.

"But not having talked to anyone because of the tampering rule, I don't think there will be any serious conversations going on on that until the appropriate time."

Perhaps not serious conversations, but the rumors already have started. When the Vancouver Canadians visited Cashman Field last month, several players complained after taking batting practice in 109-degree heat.

"You guys had better get used to it," Canadians manager Don Long shouted across the locker room. "This is going to be your home next year."