Port Denies He’s Already Determined Rojas Won’t Manage Angels in ’89

Mike Port, the Angels’ general manager, Monday denied that he has decided not to retain Manager Cookie Rojas for the 1989 season, as was reported by NBC sportscaster Fred Roggin Sunday night.

Port met with Rojas Monday and told him that a decision will be reached during the off-season, a policy the club has followed for years.

“I reminded Cookie today that back in July we had discussed the fact that, barring some unforeseen scenario, we would approach matters on a postseason basis,” Port said. “It’s no different a scenario than 1985, when Gene (Mauch) brought the team in one game back.”

Mauch signed a one-year contract for 1986 during the off-season after leading the Angels to a second-place finish behind Kansas City the previous season.

Roggin quoted unnamed sources as saying Rojas will be re-assigned in the organization. Rojas, who has never met Roggin, said he isn’t angry about the report.

“The only source I know is Mike Port, and he said we’ll discuss it at the end of the season,” Rojas said. “It’s out of my hands, anyway. If I get fired today or tomorrow, can I re-hire myself? I can’t do anything about it, so why worry about it? I’m going to worry about Baltimore.”