Morris Strikes Out With Angels and Phillies; Yankees Unsure

Jack Morris’ “can’t refuse” offer was rejected Friday by the Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies and put on hold by New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner.

Morris’ agent, Dick Moss, said the Phillies and Angels rejected the same proposal that was made earlier to the Minnesota Twins. Morris said the similar responses convinced him owners are conspiring to drive down spiraling salaries, including his.

“I hate to sound suspicious, but something seems strange here,” Moss said. “Everybody is saying the same thing. If we go to arbitration (with the Tigers), we’re talking big numbers, and Jack is going to win because he deserves it.”

Said Angel General Manager Mike Port: “Dick Moss called this morning and . . . made us a one-year arbitration proposal, which we took and discussed with Mr. Autry. Later in the afternoon, I telephoned Dick Moss back and told him we would decline to accept.”

Port said Moss’s one-year contract offer was “roundly speaking, in the $2-million range.”

“While realizing Jack Morris’ artistic capability, I have not received any letters from fans asking us to double our ticket prices next year. We can be criticized for not taking on a pitcher of Jack Morris’ caliber, but what we have to look at is, ‘What is a reasonable price?”’

The flurry of negotiating came hours before Morris had to decide whether to accept the Tigers’ offer of salary arbitration. The deadline was midnight and Morris said he had not made his decision.

If Morris agreed to go to salary arbitration, he would be considered a signed player. If he declined, the Tigers would have until Jan. 8 to re-sign him or lose that right until May 1.