Angels Add Sutton for Stretch Drive

Strengthened by John Candelaria’s five wins in six decisions, the Angels acquired another proven pitcher Tuesday.

They satisfied Don Sutton’s longstanding desire to work for the team closest to his Laguna Hills home by acquiring the former Dodger from the Oakland A’s for two minor league players to be named.

Angel General Manager Mike Port said the minor leaguers have yet to be identified but “as in the Candelaria case” they will not come from among the front-line position players who are expected to comprise the club’s future.

Sutton, 40, is signed only through the end of this season, but Port said he expects no problem in retaining Sutton for 1986.

“Considering Don has worked so hard for so long to get here,” Port said, “I expect it (a new contract) to be less of an obstacle than it might be in some cases. I don’t foresee a problem. We’re looking at Don being with us next year.”

Sutton, seven wins shy of 300, the goal that prompted him to reconsider his retirement plans and join the A’s in the middle of spring training, said he definitely plans to play next year but didn’t think this was an appropriate time to get into a public discussion about it.

He will make four or five starts for the Angels over the final three weeks of the 1985 season, the first as a replacement for Jim Slaton Friday night against Texas.

He would not be eligible to pitch in postseason competition because he was not on the Angel roster by Sept. 1.

“I’ll be very happy being the world’s highest paid batting practice pitcher for the playoffs and World Series,” Sutton said at an Anaheim Stadium press conference Tuesday.

“I’ll be very happy with a 4-1 record the rest of the way,” he said. “I’m not a miracle worker. I can’t make predictions. I’m merging into a very good ballclub. Hopefully, I can hold up my end. Hopefully, I can give go the six or seven innings that will take it to Donnie (Moore). I’d liked to have spent some of my younger years here, but my record indicates that I’m still capable of getting people out. I’ll be ready when Gene Mauch wants me.”

Said Mauch: “He’s been down the road we’re going to travel and he enjoys it. He’s been pitching great. He likes pitching in September, he likes pitching under these circumstances. That’s why we got him.”

After a 3-5 start with the A’s, Sutton has since gone 10-3 with a 2.68 earned-run average. He pitched into the seventh inning in 23 of 29 starts and emerged from 14 of the 29 having walked one or less.

“I haven’t seen any drop off in his stuff,” Kansas City Manager Dick Howser said at Anaheim Stadium Tuesday night. “He’s still a power pitcher, still a quality pitcher. I kind of felt he’d become available when the A’s dropped out of it, but then starting pitching is our strength.

“Our starting pitching is good enough to get it done for us. The question for us is hitting. If someone came up with a right-handed hitter of Sutton’s credentials, we’d be interested.”

The Angels’ struggle to hold off the Royals in the American League West has been plagued by the inconsistency of young starters Kirk McCaskill and Ron Romanick and the loss of injured relief pitcher Stewart Cliburn.

Slaton, who has pitched better than his 6-10 record indicates, will return to the middle relief role with which he is familiar, replacing Cliburn. He could join Sutton in the rotation, depending on the recurring tendinitis in Mike Witt’s shoulder and the ability of McCaskill and Romanick to shake their slumps.

“Any time you can get a pitcher of Sutton’s ability you’re helping the club,” Slaton said, “and that’s the important thing right now.

“Our No. 1 goal is to reach the playoffs. Personal things have to be put aside. It’s a little frustrating for me because I’m in pretty good groove right now, but it doesn’t matter if I’m happy about it or not. I’ll do anything to help.”

The Angels had pursued Sutton last spring when Sutton had said he would pitch in ’85 only if traded to the Angels. They pursued him again in August, hoping to consummate a deal by Sept. 1. The A’s, however, were still in the race and reluctant to deal Sutton to a division rival.

It wasn’t until last Saturday that A’s Vice President Sandy Alderson, his team virtually eliminated, again contacted Port, who said he consummated the trade Tuesday morning.

There had been recent reports in Bay Area newspapers that Sutton had told the A’s he would not re-sign, forcing the trade, but Sutton denied that.

His acquisition was comparatively inexpensive from a financial standpoint.

He was guaranteed $500,000 this year, almost all of it having already been paid by the A’s. He received a bonus of $75,000 when he made his 20th start and $75,000 more when he made his 25th. He is to receive a $50,000 bonus when he makes his 30th start, which will be Friday night, but it is prorated, meaning the A’s are responsible for most of it. The Angels must satisfy a contract clause calling for Sutton to receive a $12,500 bonus for every start over 30.

“You’ve got to give Mike Port credit,” Reggie Jackson said. “This shows he understands. This shows he’s trying to do everything he can to win. If the man wins only one game, it’s worth the price. One game can mean the pennant. How much is that worth?”

Said Sutton:

“I’m at a point in my career where I know I don’t have a lot left, but I’m excited about spending it at home and having the chance to pitch for a contender.

“I mean, I’m still kind of numb. I can give you words to try and express how excited I am, about being home, but I don’t think it will hit me until I wake up in the morning.”

Sutton said it has not been since he left the Dodgers after the 1980 season that he has had the opportunity to drive home after a home game. The quest for 300, he implied, kept him going--in Houston, Milwaukee and Oakland. Now he is home, revitalized, ready to pursue 300 in 1986, the oldest player on a team that has drawn notoriety for its age.

Sutton was given a locker next to the 79-year-old coach, Jimmie Reese, Tuesday and he was immediately welcomed to the club by a needling Jackson, who said, “they wanted to put you next to someone you could feel comfortable with, someone you could reminisce with.”

DON SUTTON’S CAREER STATISTICS

Year Club G IP W L Pct. H R ER SO BB 1966 Dodgers 37 226 12 12 .500 192 82 75 209 52 1967 Dodgers 37 233 11 15 .423 223 106 102 169 57 1968 Dodgers 35 208 11 15 .423 179 64 60 162 59 1969 Dodgers 41 293 17 18 .486 269 123 113 217 91 1970 Dodgers 38 260 15 13 .536 251 127 118 201 78 1971 Dodgers 38 265 17 12 .586 231 85 75 194 55 1972 Dodgers 33 273 19 9 .679 186 78 63 207 63 1973 Dodgers 33 256 18 10 .643 196 78 69 200 56 1974 Dodgers 40 276 19 9 .679 241 111 99 179 80 1975 Dodgers 35 254 16 13 .552 202 87 81 175 62 1976 Dodgers 35 268 21 10 .677 231 98 91 161 82 1977 Dodgers 33 240 14 8 .636 207 93 85 150 69 1978 Dodgers 34 238 15 11 .577 228 109 94 154 54 1979 Dodgers 33 226 12 15 .444 201 109 96 146 61 1980 Dodgers 32 212 13 5 .722 163 56 52 128 47 1981 Houston 23 159 11 9 .550 132 51 46 104 29 1982 Houston 27 195 13 8 .619 169 75 65 139 46 1982 Milw’kee 7 54.2 4 1 .800 55 21 20 36 18 1983 Milw’kee 31 220.1 8 13 .381 209 109 100 134 54 1984 Milw’ke 33 212.2 14 12 .538 224 103 89 143 51 1985 Oakland 29 194.1 13 8 .619 194 88 84 91 51 NL Totals 584 4082 254 192 .570 3501 532 1384 2895 1041 AL Totals 100 682 39 34 .534 682 321 293 404 174 Career 684 4764 293 226 .564 4183 1853 1677 3299 1215

Year Club ERA 1966 Dodgers 2.99 1967 Dodgers 3.94 1968 Dodgers 2.60 1969 Dodgers 3.47 1970 Dodgers 4.08 1971 Dodgers 2.55 1972 Dodgers 2.08 1973 Dodgers 2.43 1974 Dodgers 3.23 1975 Dodgers 2.87 1976 Dodgers 3.06 1977 Dodgers 3.19 1978 Dodgers 3.55 1979 Dodgers 3.82 1980 Dodgers 2.21 1981 Houston 2.60 1982 Houston 3.00 1982 Milw’kee 3.29 1983 Milw’kee 4.08 1984 Milw’ke 3.77 1985 Oakland 3.89 NL Totals 3.05 AL Totals 3.86 Career 3.17