Moore and Angels Looking for Insurance : He May Pay $30,000 Premium; They Want to Help the Bullpen

The Angels’ recent selection of Atlanta relief pitcher Donnie Moore as compensation for the loss of free agent Fred Lynn seemed to provide the club with much-needed bullpen insurance.

It may also mean that Lloyd’s of London will be providing some new insurance.

Moore’s agent, David Pinter, said Friday that unless Moore gets a multiyear contract from the Angels, his client will pay the $30,000 premium for a Lloyd’s policy that would pay Moore $1 million if he goes on the disabled list in 1985.

Pinter, who operates All-Star Management in the New York City suburb of New City, said Moore, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in October, has already passed a battery of physicals required for the policy.

“Donnie is looking at this as protection if he can’t get the guarantee of a multiyear contract,” Pinter said. “A lot of athletes have been going this way recently. Donnie, of course, would prefer the contract.”

Moore, who turns 31 Wednesday, earned $130,000 while enjoying his best major league season in 1984. He had 16 saves with a 4-5 record and a 2.94 earned-run average.

The Braves reportedly wanted to protect him in the compensation draft but had too many players with no-trade contracts that legally required that they be protected. Moore came to the Angels having already filed for salary arbitration. He submitted a figure of $490,000. The Braves had countered at $375,000.

The Angels inherited those figures but remain free to negotiate with Moore until his arbitration hearing Feb. 18.

“Donnie doesn’t want to go to arbitration and I can’t believe the Angels do either,” Pinter said, “but I’ve been trying to get one hour with (General Manager) Mike Port for two weeks and he hasn’t been able to give it to me.

“We’ve talked only twice since the draft, and Donnie has gotten quite depressed about it after being so high when the Angels first drafted him.”

Pinter said he would like a four-year contract that would protect both Moore and the Angels--Moore is eligible for free agency after the 1985 season--but is willing to sign for one.

“I’ll even come down a little (from $490,000) just to show how happy Donnie is to be in a situation where he’s going to pitch a lot and just to get it settled,” Pinter said. “I really just want the chance to get it settled.”

An Angels source who requested anonymity said Pinter’s opening salvo--5 years at $4.5 million--left Port too stunned to begin serious negotiation. Port, however, said he, too, hopes to settle the Moore situation short of arbitration but that he is first trying to reach an greement with relief pitcher Luis Sanchez, whose arbitration hearing is scheduled Tuesday.

Port eased his workload late Friday night by reaching a one-year agreement with first baseman Daryl Sconiers. No terms were announced.