Winter Baseball Meetings : Angel Guarantees Likely to Be Good for Only One Year

The Angels bought time Sunday in the free agent negotiating process.

Will it ultimately produce additional contract time for Bob Boone, Doug DeCinces or Brian Downing? Apparently not--at least as far as Boone, 39, and DeCinces, 36, are concerned.

The Angels will apparently guarantee one year and that’s it, though Downing, 36, may eventually be offered two since he will be moving from left field to the sedentary designated hitter role if he remains with the Angels.

“What’s wrong with asking them to take it a year at a time?” Port said of the three veterans.

“They were essentially on one-year contracts last year (which was the last year of their three-year contracts), and they reacted well to it.

“At this point in their careers, I can’t see anything wrong with asking them to do it again.”

The three, however, are known to be seeking two years guaranteed.

Sunday, in response to a deadline in the free agent process, the Angels offered to settle their differences through arbitration. It was an anticipated step, since the club would have lost negotiating rights with each of the three until May 15 had arbitration not been offered. Now the Angels have retained negotiating rights until Jan. 8.

In the meantime, Boone, DeCinces and Downing have until Dec. 19 to decide if they want to try arbitration, in which case they would be giving up the multiyear concept in a hope the arbitrator would favor their 1987 salary bid over that of the Angels.

“If we go to arbitration and the arbitrator rules within the outlined criteria,” Port said, “I think we could feel comfortable with the results. I think this would be a way to get it resolved.”

Tom Reich, who represents Downing, said Sunday that arbitration represents an option he wouldn’t rule out. He implied, however, that his preference is for a two-year contract.

Said Ron Shapiro, who represents DeCinces:

“On the basis of Doug’s performance last year, arbitration suggests a substantial salary increase but precludes length (of more than one year.)

“We have until the 19th to decide.”

Arthur Rosenberg, who represents Boone, said he saw “nothing to be gained “ by arbitration since his client “believes he is entitled to a two-year contract.” He added: “Anything is possible.”

How strong is the Angels’ stand on this? The three players have been told that Anaheim Stadium is off limits, that they can no longer work out there.

Of the players’ quest for a two-year contract, Port said, “We’re willing to include an option for 1988, but that would depend on the financial considerations. I don’t want to get into buy outs or that kind of thing.”

Port also took exception to comments made by attorney Shapiro in a story appearing in Sunday’s editions of The Times.

“I have great respect for Ron Shapiro but when he says that DeCinces has always responded to a multiyear contract I have to ask, what about 1985 when he hit .244?” Port said. “What about last year if you take August out? What about his back problems?”

DeCinces, who slugged 26 home runs and drove in 96 runs in 1986, carrying the club through much of the second half, was reached at his Villa Park home and implied he would not agree to a one-year contract.

“I don’t want to have to go through this whole thing again after just one more year, wondering where my career is headed,” he said. “I feel my performance of the last five years here shouldn’t leave a question as to my ability to play two more years.”

The Dodgers’ pursuit of a relief pitcher and center fielder took a different direction Sunday, when they talked to the Montreal Expos about third baseman Tim Wallach, reportedly offering Rick Honeycutt and Alejandro Pena, said to be throwing 90 miles per hour in the Dominican Winter League.

The acquisition of Wallach would send Bill Madlock to first base or the American League as a DH and leave Jeff Hamilton in Albuquerque or on third base for the Expos.

The clubs are scheduled to talk again today, but trade prospects aren’t bright.

Baseball Notes Add Cold War: 1--The New York Mets refused to offer arbitration Sunday to free agent third baseman Ray Knight, meaning they have terminated relations with the Most Valuable Player of the recent World Series. Knight, who made $625,000 last season, reportedly wanted a two-year, $1.6 million guarantee. The Mets reportedly offered $800,000 for one year. Dave Magadan, Kevin Mitchell and/or Howard Johnson will now be involved in some sort of platoon arrangement at third base next year. . . . 2--The Texas Rangers refused to arbitrate with veteran outfielder Gary Ward, who made $865,000 last season and reportedly rejected a final Ranger offer of $550,000 for 1987. Ward, who would have been only the No. 4 Ranger outfielder, made his mistake at the end of the 1985 season when he turned down a three-year, $2,475,000 contract extension. . . .

The Dodgers announced that Steve Sax would have a bone spur removed from his right heel Thursday in Houston, after which he will require six to eight weeks of rehabilitation. . . . Another club the Dodgers talked to Sunday was the Detroit Tigers, but a deal embracing Greg Brock or Ken Howell for center fielder Chet Lemon remained unlikely because of Lemon’s contract, which is guaranteed through 1991. . . . The Angels made it official, announcing that Bob Fontaine Jr., 33, will replace Larry Himes as the club’s scouting director. Himes recently became general manager of the Chicago White Sox.