Angels Decide to Pass on Burleson and Corbett

Another day, another two Angel veterans became ex-Angels.

Infielder-designated hitter Rick Burleson and relief pitcher Doug Corbett went the way Friday that Terry Forster and Vern Ruhle had gone Thursday. General Manager Mike Port said the team would not be offering 1987 contracts to Burleson, who batted .284 in 93 games, and Corbett, who had a 4-2 record and 10 saves.

Port also said he will attempt to negotiate new contracts with catcher Bob Boone, third baseman Doug DeCinces and outfielder Brian Downing. Reggie Jackson, who has publicly said the Angels have no plans for him next season, was left in limbo by Port, who said he is “hopeful of meeting with Reggie Jackson within the next two weeks.”

Friday’s announcement brought an end to a pair of Angel careers that progressed similarly--beginning with much promise, followed by four years of disappointment and then revitalization in 1986.

Corbett, who will be 34 next week, came to the Angels in 1982 after saving 40 games in two seasons with the Minnesota Twins--amid acclaim that he would emerge as the Angels’ bullpen savior. Instead, he struggled through injuries and inconsistency, failing to spend an entire season in the major leagues until 1986.

Last season, Corbett was second on the club in saves and appearances, 46 games, while recording a 3.66 earned-run average. He also won Game 4 of the American League playoffs, pitching three innings of hitless relief.

Burleson, 35, was a three-time All-Star shortstop with the Boston Red Sox before his trade to the Angels in December 1980. He batted .293 in 1981 before missing nearly all of the next four seasons with two tears of his right rotator cuff muscle.