Angel Notebook : Reggie Says Management Suggested He Leave

How certain is Reggie Jackson that the Angels don’t really want him?

“Jackie Autry said to me in November that I should retire,” Jackson said Thursday.

His response?

“I said to her, ‘If that’s the way you feel, then you should move me elsewhere.’

“She went on to say a lot more, but I don’t want to talk about it yet. I don’t want to knock the Autrys. I don’t want to create a bad atmosphere.

“It’s intense enough now. And with me it’s always simmering, so I have to be careful.

“I still have a sweet spot for Gene Autry and I respect (manager) Gene Mauch.”

Jackie Autry, who is actively involved in the club’s policy decisions as wife of the owner, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Jackson said his November meeting with the Autrys stemmed from a phone call from General Manager Mike Port, telling Jackson he no longer fit into the club’s plans.

A source requesting anonymity said Thursday that Port also told Jackson that he should become a free agent.

Port said Thursday: “I can see that if I put myself in Reggie’s shoes he may have felt that we were conveying a certain unwritten message.

“But again, out of respect for Reggie, we were just trying to be candid and up front with him. We wanted him to know that we planned to use him as a DH this year and that if he wasn’t agreeable to that, then maybe we could do something for him (in the way of a trade).

“As far as saying we don’t want you or you’re not in our plans, no way did I say that.

“Unless and until someone comes with an offer we can’t refuse, Reggie is in our plans as the DH. He hit 27 homers and drove in 85 runs last year. This year we want him to hit 35 homers and drive in 90 runs.”

Port added that he has not solicited offers for Jackson nor received anything more than cursory calls from other clubs, and that no trade talks are under way.

“I think that some teams are trying to use Reggie as a commodity by which they can get space in their media, but when it comes down to brass tacks, nothing significant follows,” Port said.

Port might have been alluding to a recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle in which Al Rosen, the Giants’ general manager, said he was interested in Jackson and had already talked to Steve Kay, who is Jackson’s attorney.

Port said Thursday that he did not plan to file tampering charges against Rosen but had been told that the commissioner’s office is looking into it.

Asked if there was concern that the Jackson situation might cause unrest and negatively affect the team, Port said: “I don’t see it as a threat. The feeling I get from our players is one of, ‘Ho-hum. Another year. More stories.’ ”

This one, however, hasn’t gone away. Writers aware of Jackson’s 1985 accomplishments and his uncertain status seek him out daily.

There also seems to be a lingering perception among those familiar with the club that the Angels would like to move him, eliminating both a $975,000 salary and the possibility that the 40-year-old Jackson will be unable to produce.

The unstated plan, according to club sources, would be to use a variety of designated hitters, among them Doug DeCinces, which would free third base for the promising Jack Howell and eliminate the stress on DeCinces’ back.

Meanwhile, Jackson said he is still mystified by it all.

“I thought I had one of the better offensive years in baseball, and all I’ve heard is how they want to get rid of me,” he said.

“My only guess is that it comes down to salary or that maybe they feel I’m too old and want to get rid of me before I have a horrible year. I’ve tried to ask, but I either get confusing answers or they say something like, ‘Oh, we’ve got roster problems.’ ”

Jackson said he has never experienced a spring like this.

“Not after having a decent year,” he said. “Not after showing up in good shape. It’s like I hit .200 last year. You wander between mentally up and mentally down.

“The fortunate thing is that it happened to me at this age rather than when I was younger,” he said. “I’ve got a little more stability even though I’m goofy. I’ve got a little more security even though we’re all insecure.”

The one club that has confirmed interest in Jackson is Milwaukee, but the Brewers have yet to make an offer, General Manager Harry Dalton said.

Jackson, who can approve or disapprove a trade, indicated he would accept assignment anywhere.

“Southern California is a great place to live and play, but when you’re 39 or 40, you want to be wanted, and I don’t sense that the Angels want me,” he said.

“I believe that if they’d take a stance and say they were open to offers, they may get some. They keep telling me that no one is interested, but I don’t believe it.”

Jackson spoke of the amount of playing time he has been getting and said he was confident that Manager Gene Mauch was counting on him. He added, however, that it would be difficult spending the season with the Angels, knowing how the front office felt.

“I don’t think Gene wants that either,” he said. “It might lead to a volatile situation that could erupt at any time.”