Lefferts Sent to Orioles : Padres: Pitcher loses to Cardinals, 6-2, as Padres fall 8 1/2 back.

ST. LOUIS — The Padres, determining Monday night that their playoff hopes are all but mathematically over, traded starter Craig Lefferts to the Baltimore Orioles for two minor league prospects.

They made the trade about an hour after the St. Louis Cardinals defeated them, 6-2, at Busch Stadium, dropping the Padres 8 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Atlanta Braves.

“When you trade away the guy that won 13 games for you, it doesn’t sit well for the rest of the year,” Lefferts (13-9) said. “If we had won (Monday), maybe it would have been different. Maybe there would still be hope.

“But I guess Joe (McIlvaine) thought that we’re just too far out of it now.”

McIlvaine, Padre general manager, resisted temptation the past few weeks to trade Lefferts. This is a guy who was tied for the team lead with 13 victories. Although Lefferts had won only one of his last eight starts, he still was invaluable to the rotation.

Yet, with their playoff hopes looking only like a pipe dream, and the reality that they couldn’t afford to retain Lefferts, McIlvaine felt compelled to make the trade 15 minutes before Monday’s deadline when postseason rosters are set.

“It was a tough call,” McIlvaine said. “Craig has pitched tough for us all year, and done a good job. We just thought it would be very difficult to retain him for next year.

“We felt this was something we had to do.”

The Padres received 23-year-old right-hander Erik Schullstrom in the deal and a minor-league player to be named. Schullstrom, the Orioles’ No. 2 pick in the 1990 draft, was 5-8 with a 3.54 earned-run average at double-A Hagerstown. He will be assigned to the Padres’ double-A Wichita team.

The Padres will recall right-handed reliever Gene Harris today to replace Lefferts on the 25-man roster, and likely will recall starter Frank Seminara later in the week to replace Lefferts in the starting rotation.

“People are going to say right away, ‘They’re giving up,’ “McIlvaine said, “but that’s not the case, really. We’re just gambling on the four games he starts.”

The Orioles, who started the day 1 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East, are in desperate need of another starter. They have been scouting Lefferts for the past week, along with the Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos.

McIlvaine confirmed he had trade discussions with three teams Monday, waiting for the best offer.

“Craig had the most interest from teams because he passed waivers and is where he is now,” McIlvaine said. “But if he wins 15 games and goes to arbitration, we couldn’t afford to pay him.”

Lefferts is in the final year of a contract that pays him $1.875 million this season. He’s eligible for arbitration the next two years, and since he’s also a 10-year veteran, could receive at least $3 million in arbitration this winter.

“I thought I’d get traded, just because of that,” Lefferts said. “I knew there have been a lot of scouts watching, but then Joe said the other day that we’d go with the team we had.

“I guess the last few days changed everything.”

The Padres (69-61), who appeared to be on the verge of entering the division race again with the Braves’ recent skid, have lost three consecutive games and nine of their past 14.

It was Lefferts, ironically, who may have caused his own departure when he was the losing pitcher Monday. He surrendered seven hits and six runs (five earned) in five innings, losing to Bob Tewksbury (14-5).

“You know, the funny thing is if we had won tonight,” Lefferts said, “maybe the trade isn’t made. But when you go from 7 games to 8 1/2 in one night, maybe it’s too much to make up.

“I know I’ve still got a chance to go to the playoffs, but I wanted to go with this team.”

The Padres, however, will be waiting until next year for a chance at the playoffs. While the true contenders bolstered themselves with trades Monday, the Padres’ only move for the present was placing second baseman Kurt Stillwell on the disabled list and calling up second baseman Jeff Gardner from triple-A Las Vegas. Oh yeah, they’re also expected to activate catcher Dann Bilardello from the DL today.

Those hardly are moves that will strike fear into the heart of the Braves.

“I still think the team we put on the field is better than theirs,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said, “but you can’t say we’re a better team when they have (20) shutouts to our (10). They’re going to have to keep slipping, and we’re going to have to play flawless baseball until the end.”

Although McIlvaine said several teams had interest in other players, he never received any serious offers. Starter Bruce Hurst and reliever Randy Myers were claimed on waivers, and there was minimal interest in catcher Benito Santiago.

“It would have been fun to go to another team like Montreal,” Santiago said, “but I would have missed San Diego. I get to stay home now.”

Lefferts, who had an emotional farewell with several of his teammates and coaching staff, will leave the team today for San Diego. He’ll pack up his belongings, and join the Orioles in Anaheim, where he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Angels.

He hopes history can repeat itself. The last time he was traded in 1987 from the Padres to San Francisco, the Giants made the playoffs.

“I’ve got no hard feelings,” he said, “I hope the best for them. So much has been made of our clubhouse chemistry over the years, and now, we’ve got a special group of guys.

“I’m going to miss them. I’m going to miss everything about this place.”

Triple Crown Watch

Batting Average

Gary Sheffield, Padres: .333

Andy Van Slyke, Pittsburgh: .331

John Kruk, Philadelphia: .326

Home Runs

Fred McGriff, Padres: 31

Gary Sheffield, Padres: 29

Darren Daulton, Philadelphia: 24

Runs Batted In

Gary Sheffield, Padres: 92

Darren Daulton, Philadelphia: 91

Terry Pendleton, Atlanta: 86