The infielder, who spent 10 years in the orginization, is claimed off the waiver wire by the Padres.

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – Lou Merloni looked like he might be a lifer for the Boston Red Sox, the team he grew up watching in Framingham, Mass.

Instead, the utility infielder is heading to San Diego, where he hopes he’ll find regular, Major League playing time – the one thing missing during an otherwise agreeable 10-year career in the Red Sox organization.

Merloni, 31, found himself on Boston’s roster bubble yet again this spring. After splitting time between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket in each of the last three seasons, he faced new competition in the infield this year from offseason pickups Bill Mueller, Todd Walker and Kevin Millar.

The parting seemed amicable. General manager Theo Epstein sent Merloni on his way with good wishes and a few tips on where to grab a beer in San Diego, where he used to work for the Padres. Merloni said he’d miss Boston but looked forward to a chance for more playing time.

“This is great, I’m fired up,” Merloni said Tuesday. “Playing for a National League team, I’ll get a lot more playing time. It’s great for me personally.”

Merloni has played his entire career in the Red Sox organization, except for part of the 2000 season in Japan. He hit .247 in 84 games last season with the Red Sox. He’s a career .271 hitter.

“The toughest part is that I’ve spent my whole career here and I have so many special memories and made so many friends here,” he said. “It’s going to be tough after growing up there and playing my whole career there, the way the fans treated me was amazing. I have so many special memories.”

Epstein said Merloni’s popularity – Fenway Park fans greeted his occasional at-bats with a chorus of “Lou!” – made the decision to offer Merloni on waivers more difficult.

“It’s tough to see Lou go,” Epstein said. “I talked it over with Lou that he will always be (part of the) Red Sox. After his playing days are over we’ll have a place for him if he wants to stay in baseball.”

Merloni’s departure clarified Manager Grady Litttle’s final roster decisions somewhat, but he wouldn’t say how exactly. It could improve fellow infielder Damian Jackson’s chances of making the team, or it could simply change Little’s calculus about whether to carry 11 or 12 pitchers.

“We’re proud for Lou,” Little said after Boston’s 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh in Bradenton. “He did an awfully good job when he was with the Red Sox. But he’s getting a good opportunity now with a great city and we wish him the best.”

Merloni didn’t travel with the team on Tuesday. He planned to stop by Boston’s clubhouse in Fort Myers on Wednesday and say his goodbyes before heading west to play in a Triple-A exhibition game Thursday in Portland, Ore.

Merloni said he’d already spoken to Padres’ manager Kevin Towers, who was looking for an infielder who could hit left-handed pitching. Though he would be unlikely to break immediately into San Diego’s starting infield, Merloni figures he may get more at-bats off the bench because the National League has more double switches.

“It’s going to be hard to leave, but this is a great opportunity,” he said. “It will be a better situation for me. Now I’ll get to see what it’s like on the other side.”

Notes: RHP Steve Woodard pitched four outstanding innings for Boston on Tuesday, giving up just one hit in four innings, walking none and striking out three. .. RHP Robert Person pitched one inning of relief. He is working through a sore hip, but Little says it isn’t serious. … Little says five pitchers remain in the hunt for the either one or two final bullpen slots. … LHP Matt White may start the season on the disabled list. His back injury is apparently more serious than first thought. … Little announced his opening day lineup, which has Kevin Millar at first base, Shea Hillenbrand at third, and David Ortiz, Jeremy Giambi or perhaps Doug Mirabelli as designated hitter. But he says Boston will likely have four different lineups in the four-game season-opening series at Tampa Bay alone.

AP-ES-03-25-03 1622EST