Padres to announce Vaughn deal today

Monday, Feb. 10, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres have called a news conference for this afternoon to announce that they've agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract with slugger Greg Vaughn.

By agreeing to the deal, the two sides will avoid an arbitration hearing Friday. Vaughn, acquired from Milwaukee on July 21, asked for $5,675,000 in arbitration and was offered $5 million. He made $5,825,000 last year.

Vaughn's 41 homers and 117 RBIs were career-highs. But he struggled to adjust to NL pitching after joining the Padres, mainly because he had to share playing time in left field with Rickey Henderson. Vaughn hit only .206 with the Padres, with 10 homers and 22 RBIs.

Vaughn's presence in the lineup will be crucial this season, especially because NL MVP Ken Caminiti, who had 40 homers in 1996, is expected to miss all of April because of offseason rotator cuff surgery.

Barring an injury, the Padres likely will trade Henderson before the start of the season.

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