WINTER BASEBALL MEETINGS : McKeon Wheels, No One Will Deal

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. —  Jack McKeon, Padre general manager, has set up shop in the corner of a hotel lobby here. Whenever he’s approached about possibly making a trade, he says, “Step into my office.”

His office is a sofa.

But so far when McKeon leaves at night, he leaves empty-handed. He came to the meetings here to shake up his team, but he mostly is shaking his head.

“I’m a little disappointed and frustrated, and I probably didn’t feel that way until today,” McKeon said Tuesday. “I figured the first two days of the meetings, everyone would be feeling each other out . . . But nothing’s happening.”

Here’s a look at McKeon’s progress:

WITH PHILADELPHIA--At last year’s winter meetings, the Padres almost traded for outfielder Jeff Stone, but the deal fell through. Stone is unavailable this year, but outfielder Gary Redus is being considered.

Sources said Tuesday that the Phillies offered Redus for reliever Gene Walter. McKeon is expected to respond by noon today.

McKeon could have made the deal weeks ago. But he says he wanted to hold onto every marketable Padre as he continued his efforts to trade for a third baseman, which is his first priority.

WITH SEATTLE--McKeon wants Danny Tartabull, who could fill the void at third base. Seattle talked about a Tartabull deal early, but the Mariners suddenly have no interest in trading him.

Sources say former Padre Manager Dick Williams had a lot to do with the change. The Padres talked about offering pitcher Andy Hawkins for Tartabull, but Williams rejected the plan.

Williams apparently doesn’t want to deal with San Diego.

Another Mariner who interests the Padres is left-handed pitcher Matt Young. But Seattle apparently won’t trade him, either.

WITH CLEVELAND--The Padres are interested in third baseman Brook Jacoby, and the Indians need pitching. Cleveland led the American League in runs scored, but was still outscored overall by 10 runs. The Padres have pitching to offer, particularly where the Indians need it--in the bullpen.

WITH CINCINNATI--Padre Manager Larry Bowa is trying to talk his ex-teammate--Red Manager Pete Rose--into making a deal. The Padres covet outfielder Kal Daniels, but Bill Bergesch, the Reds’ general manager, won’t trade him.

The Padres also think Nick Esasky could play third for them, but sources said the Reds want two pitchers for Esasky, which the Padres think is too much. Only Rose can save the deal, and he didn’t even arrive here until late Tuesday night.

WITH MINNESOTA--The Padres like Twin third baseman, Gary Gaetti, who may or may not be available. The Twins need pitching, and more discussions are scheduled between representatives today.

“(To get Gaetti) you’d have to drown us in pitching,” said Andy MacPhail, the Twins’ general manager. The Padres talked about offering Hawkins and reliver Craig Lefferts, and MacPhail said those two would hardly get him “ankle deep” in pitching.

WITH ST. LOUIS--There was talk that outfielder Kevin McReynolds would go to the Cardinals for either outfielder Willie McGee and pitcher Ricky Horton or Vince Coleman and Ricky Horton. The Padres, though, want much more, perhaps Andy Van Slyke.

Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog, who was asked about the McReynolds trade Tuesday morning, said: “I would think everyone has an interest in Kevin McReynolds. Jack McKeon is in a hell of a bind.

“They call him Trader Jack, and he and I have been known to make a few deals. But he’s got one pitcher in jail (LaMarr Hoyt enters prison in January); he’s got another upset about the ballclub (Goose Gossage); and he’s got a first baseman (Steve Garvey) who might be his boss. He (Garvey) might fire him. So, I don’t know, Jack might be tied up a little bit.”

WITH THE NEW YORK METS--The rumors had McReynolds going to New York for outfielder Stan Jefferson, third baseman Kevin Mitchell and minor league pitcher John Mitchell. But McKeon wants more, maybe pitchers Randy Meyers and Rick Aguilera.

But, McKeon isn’t sure he wants to trade McReynolds.

The Mets and the Padres have a meeting planned for today.

WITH OAKLAND--The Padres are interested in third baseman Carney Lansford, but the A’s don’t seem interested in trading him.