Schiraldi Signs Deal for 1 Year, $740,000 : Baseball: Padres, pitcher avoid arbitration.

Calvin Schiraldi, who wants to prove to the baseball world that he’s able to be an effective starting pitcher, signed a one-year, $740,000 contract Wednesday with the Padres, forgoing the arbitration process.

Schiraldi, who earned $600,000 last season, had requested $860,000 in his arbitration filing while the Padres countered with $625,000. The two sides decided to compromise, basically splitting the difference.

The Padres also announced the signings of pitcher John Costello and third baseman Scott Coolbaugh to one-year contracts. Costello and Coolbaugh each have split contracts in case they do not make the 25-man roster and must remain in the minor leagues.

Schiraldi, 28, is one of a handful of potential candidates vying for the job as the Padres’ fifth starter, and right-handed middle reliever. Yet, as far as Schiraldi is concerned, he has only one role in mind.

“I’m not even thinking about the middle-relief spot,” Schiraldi said from his home in Austin, Tex. “My goal is to make the starting rotation. I want to be that fifth starter.

“I didn’t think I did all that bad as a starter, but my numbers don’t reflect that.”

Schiraldi was 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA in eight starts last year. As a reliever, he was 2-3 with one save and a 3.71 ERA in 34 appearances.

The favorite for the fifth spot in the rotation continues to be Dennis Rasmussen, 11-15 last season. But Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, insists the vacancy is wide-open, evidenced by the fact that Rasmussen’s contract is not guaranteed for the 1991 season.

Schiraldi’s signing leaves the Padres with four potential arbitration cases: first baseman Fred McGriff, catcher Benito Santiago, infielder/outfielder Bip Roberts and pitcher Wes Gardner. Although the Padres expect to solve their differences with Roberts ($950,000/762,500) and Gardner ($675,000/$500,000) they are anticipating arbitration hearings with McGriff ($3.3 million/$2.225 million) and Santiago ($2.5 million/$1.65 million).