Spring Training / Angels : Despite All the Holdout Rumors, Joyner Says He’s Not Going Anywhere

In his second spring as a major leaguer, Wally Joyner has found that the act of reporting to training camp is not as simple as it seems.

Joyner’s arrival at the Angels’ training complex here Thursday was accompanied by published reports that he wouldn’t be arriving. Joyner was still unsigned and, therefore, was expected to hold out. That’s how Jose Canseco of the Oakland A’s was playing it, right?

Instead, Joyner showed up in uniform a day before the Angels’ first full-squad workout.

Saturday brought another dispatch from the holdout front. This one entails a supposed pact between Joyner, Canseco and the Houston Astros’ Glenn Davis--an agreement by the players that they would hold out together.

Joyner heard the rumor from a friend. His reaction? “I laughed,” Joyner said.

Angel General Manager Mike Port heard the rumor from another general manager. His reaction? “I would categorize that as very creative writing,” Port said. “Normally, I’m only interested in nonfiction.”

The idea of such an agreement amused Port.

“Gee, that wouldn’t be collusive or conspiratorial, would it?” he said sarcastically.

Angel Manager Gene Mauch had another word for it.

“Total fabrication,” Mauch said. “There are too many unethical people with devious minds out there. (Wally’s) mind doesn’t work that way.

“Besides, what good would it do him? Where’s the leverage? There is no leverage.”

Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale once held out in unison, but at the time, both were employed by the Dodgers. Then, they did have leverage.

Joyner, Canseco and Davis play for different teams, with Davis in a different league. Joyner maintained he never seriously discussed holding out with his agent, let alone Canseco or Davis.

“The way I look at it, they held out because they felt it was to their advantage,” Joyner said. “I felt like I had no reason to hold out. Talks between us and the Angels were going along well enough. My situation was fine.

“I’m leaving it up to my agent to do the best they can for me. Now, until my contract is renewed or we reach an agreement, I’m here.”

Port has imposed a deadline of next Thursday for all contract negotiations and has indicated he will renew 1986 contracts if agreements for 1987 are not made.

By renewing a player’s contract, management can pay that player the same salary he made the previous season or cut his pay by as much as 20%. Last season, Joyner earned $65,000.

“If they renew me, that shows the Angels aren’t treating me fairly. And that would be something new to me.”

Steve Freyer, Joyner’s agent, has said he may request more time from Port if a settlement isn’t reached by Thursday, but Port said he is planning to abide by the deadline.

“At the present time, I don’t see any extensions,” Port said. “With Wally, we’re hopeful of doing otherwise, but in the broader sense, I expect a number of renewals.”

Port said he also expects this policy to produce some walkouts. “I expect somebody to leave camp,” he said. “If they don’t, I will be happily surprised.”

Will Wally walk out?

“No, I’m here,” Joyner said. “We’ve got a week. If we’re nowhere close (to an agreement) by then, we may never be close.

“Either way, I’ll play the same. But if they decide to renew me, I’ll be a little disappointed.”

Angel Notes

Two Angels, relief pitcher Chuck Finley and second baseman Mark McLemore, signed 1987 contracts Saturday. That leaves Port with 10 unsigned players. The unsigned: Joyner, pitchers Kirk McCaskill, Stewart Cliburn and DeWayne Buice, catcher Jerry Narron, outfielders Jack Howell, Mark Ryal and Reggie Montgomery, and infielders Gus Polidor and Bill Merrifield. . . . Don Sutton reported Saturday, leaving Doug DeCinces as the last Angel no-show. DeCinces, who requested two more days at home to attend to personal business, is expected to report today. . . . The Angels play a group of amateurs in a charity game today at HoHoKam Park in Mesa. To earn the right to play three innings against the Angels, each member of the “fantasy team” had to pay $2,500, which will be donated to the Desert Samaritan Hospital’s cancer center. For $2,500, you can also spend nine innings “sitting with Angel executives and discussing their strategies for 1987.” For $1,000, you can manage the amateur team for three innings or pitch one inning or broadcast three innings with Angel announcer Al Conin or umpire all nine innings. And for $500, you can sing the national anthem.