Gene Autry, Donnie Moore to Discuss a New Contract Over Lunch Today

Relief pitcher Donnie Moore, his agents and Angels owner Gene Autry will break bread today, hopeful of breaking the stalemate in their contract negotiations before the passing of Wednesday night’s free agent re-enlistment deadline.

“I’ll be very, very shocked if we don’t have a signature (today),” said David Pinter, one of Moore’s agents. “Now that Gene Autry’s involved, I’m very optimistic.”

With the exception of one five-minute phone call to Pinter last month, today’s luncheon meeting in the Angels’ Anaheim offices will be Autry’s first active participation in the Moore negotiations. Pinter requested Autry’s presence at the session, wanting to make his case to the owner face-to-face.

“I’ve wanted this for a whole year,” Pinter said. “I even bought a nice, new sports coat for the meeting.

“He’s the boss, he’s the one guy who can say yes or no. (The Angels) have never had a relief pitcher like Donnie Moore before, and Mr. Autry has told me he wants Donnie back. Donnie also wants to stay. We want to do what’s best for our client.”

Moore saved 31 games for the Angels in 1985, being named the club’s most valuable player by a vote of his teammates. Pinter had originally hoped that type of season would a mean a long-term contract ($1 million a year for 5-6 years was an early proposal), but has since lowered those expectations.

Now, Pinter said, Moore will accept a three-year contract--”if the money is right” and the proper fringe benefits are included.

“The owners are all offering three years and no more,” Pinter said. “And I see nothing wrong with that. What’s the worst that could happen after three years? He could have a so-so year and have to take a 20% cut or go to arbitration.

“We’ll take a three-year offer, with options for a fourth, fifth and maybe a sixth year, for a couple dollars more. We also want to give Donnie some sort of security. He wants to stay in baseball after he’s done playing and we want the Angels to provide him that opportunity.”