Santiago Arbitration Scheduled for Feb. 13

SAN DIEGO —  The Padres and catcher Benito Santiago are scheduled to have their impasse in contract negotiations solved for them Feb. 13 in Los Angeles when an independent arbitrator is to hear the case.

Santiago and the Padres still are $500,000 apart, and the differences are not expected to be resolved before the hearing.

Santiago, who earned a base salary of $310,000 last season with $35,000 in incentives, is seeking the largest arbitration award in Padre history--$1.25 million. The Padres are offering $750,000.

Scott Boras, Santiago’s agent, and Jack McKeon, Padre manager and vice president/baseball operations, talked Monday, but neither side budged.

“We had a conversation and a thorough discussion,” Boras said, “but not much has changed.”

The Padres also have three other arbitration hearings scheduled in Los Angeles if they’re unable to iron out differences beforehand: Feb. 6 with third baseman Mike Pagliarulo ($645,000 sought and $550,000 offered), Feb. 8 with pitcher Calvin Schiraldi ($685,000 and $500,000) and Feb. 9 with Mark Grant ($475,000 and $310,000).

McKeon said he’ll continue negotiations on one-year contracts with each of the four players. In cases that go to a hearing, the Padres will be represented by Minneapolis attorney Clark Griffith.