Padres, Santiago Still Far Apart : Baseball: Star catcher appears headed for arbitration, but pitcher Calvin Schiraldi signed a one-year contract.

SAN DIEGO — Negotiations have stalled between the Padres and catcher Benito Santiago, according to agent Scott Boras, leaving reconciliation highly unlikely before Tuesday’s arbitration hearing.

The Padres and Santiago are no closer to reaching a settlement than the day Santiago filed for arbitration three weeks ago, Boras said.

Santiago is seeking a Padre arbitration record $1.25 million, while the Padres filed a bid of $750,000.

“I haven’t talked to Jack McKeon (Padre vice president/baseball operations) in the last two weeks,” Boras said. “I really don’t know how anyone can say Benito’s not a million-dollar player. But if they want to keep thinking that way, that’s fine. We’re pretty well set, and ready to go.”

McKeon, who said he has not given up hope in signing Santiago before the scheduled Feb. 13 arbitration hearing, avoided one arbitration case Tuesday when he signed pitcher Calvin Schiraldi to a one-year, $600,000 contract.

Schiraldi, who was traded Aug. 30 to the Padres from the Chicago Cubs, received a $200,000 raise. He originally had requested a salary of $685,000, while the Padres countered with $500,000.

It’s still undetermined how Schiraldi will be used this season. He was 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA while making four starts with the Padres, and was 3-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 54 relief appearances with the Cubs.

McKeon said that he liked the way Schiraldi performed in his starter’s role, but the problem--Schiraldi’s, not the Padres’--is that the Padres already have five starters. But if Eric Show does not come back effectively from back surgery, or if any other starter is injured, McKeon said, Schiraldi will step into the rotation.

“I think he’d make a heck of a reliever, if we have to go that route,” McKeon said. “Really, he could be our closer from the right side. In either case, it’s a nice luxury to have.”

The Padres also have one other arbitration case remaining Friday with reliever Mark Grant. Grant, who earned $155,000 last season, is seeking $475,000 while the Padres filed at $310,000.

“We continue to talk, but we’re really not close to an agreement,” said Randy Hendricks, Grant’s agent. “We’re getting geared up for Friday.”

Said McKeon: “We’re continuing to talk, I think we’re close. Well, let me say I hope we’re close.”