Angels Not Pursuing Costly Free Agents : Baseball: Club looks within the organization in an attempt to increase production and win one-run games.

The “glaring holes” found by Richard Brown in his two weeks as the Angels’ president and chief executive officer probably won’t be filled by high-profile free agents.

Brown said Friday the Angels have not initiated talks with any free agents, or with players who might become new-look free agents as a result of the latest collusion ruling and could be signed without costing a draft pick.

He acknowledged his interest is piqued by New York Yankee reliever Dave Righetti and by Minnesota Twins third baseman Gary Gaetti but said the Angels intend to satisfy their needs from within if possible.

“People have been talking about (the Dodgers signing) Darryl Strawberry, and God bless him,” Brown said. “We may not sign anybody, and I’m not saying that we won’t, but we will sign a new person: You’ll see a new Mark Langston. I think next season you’ll see the real Mark Langston, the one who’s been one of the top pitchers in the major leagues until last year. He received extremely poor run production and he was trying too hard. . . .

“My philosophy is to build on scouting and the minor leagues, then trades and then free agents. Signing new-look free agents is a matter of money, and the list hasn’t been finalized. It was reduced from 21 to 15 and it may not be announced until January, February or March. We’re trying to fill holes as well as we can and as expeditiously as we can. I can’t wait until March to pull the trigger on trades. Looking at all free agents, I’m loath to sign Type A players because that means giving up two first-round draft picks. Our first approach is to look to the minor leagues to see who’s coming.”

The Angels’ farm system isn’t likely to come up with players to fill what Brown sees as glaring holes. “Our defense last year was terrible, an embarrassment,” said Brown, who attributed part of the problem to injuries.

He said Bobby Rose is “on the path” to becoming the club’s regular second baseman but might not be ready; he also said third baseman Jack Howell’s declining offensive production is a problem, especially with Brown’s desire to increase the Angels’ production.

“We scored a few more runs in 1990, but timely hitting and one-run games were the keys,” Brown said. “Teams that win pennants win one-run games. In 1989, we were well above .500 (33-21 in one-run games) but this year, we were just around .500 (23-21). By having Dave Winfield all year, that’s going to help in that department.”

Brown hopes to have Wally Joyner next year and for years to come. Brown has begun talks about a long-term agreement with the 28-year-old first baseman, who missed much of last season after sustaining a stress fracture in his right kneecap.

Joyner has been mentioned as trade bait, but Brown indicated that Joyner would remain an Angel barring unforeseen, spectacular offers. Everyone on the club is expendable, Brown said, except the starting pitchers--Langston, Jim Abbott, Kirk McCaskill, Chuck Finley and Bert Blyleven.

Brown, who intends to retain infielder Donnie Hill and outfielder Max Venable by re-signing the two free agents, hasn’t precluded a return by designated hitter Brian Downing, who filed for free agency after the Angels declined to go to arbitration with him. Should Chili Davis be granted new-look free agency and sign with another team, Brown said Downing might be re-signed. If Davis stays, Downing’s chances would decrease.

“We probably lead the majors in potential designated hitters,” Brown said, “and if you’re going to lead the majors in one position, you don’t want it to be that. I’d much rather have a bunch of backup middle infielders.”

The surplus of outfielders could be alleviated before next season. Brown confirmed rumors that several other clubs have expressed interest in Dante Bichette, who faded in the second half of the season after he lost his starting job. However, Brown believes Bichette and center fielder Devon White have too much promise to be easily surrendered.

“Generally, when a player gets to the point where he doesn’t realize his full potential, you either keep or trade him based on what you can get for him,” Brown said. “Some players I view as unexpendable would be expendable if the right deal came along. Do I trade one of our promising outfielders to fill a hole elsewhere? The answer has to be yes, but you have to look at the relative worth of the deal.

“I’ve rarely seen a player with as much potential as Devon White. Are we happy that he hit .217? No. Some people also realize their potential elsewhere. I hope he realizes it here. But I can’t sit on potential. Potential doesn’t win pennants.”

Potential scouting finds made by Manager Doug Rader during his trip last month to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic will be discussed by Brown, General Manager Mike Port, Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien and the scouting staff in Chicago during baseball’s annual winter meetings.

“Doug and I talked on the phone, and it was one of the most pleasant conversations I’ve had in 10 years,” Brown said. “Philosophically, we’re on the same wavelength. I look forward to talking with him at the meetings.”

Angel Notes

Richard Brown said that despite the sale of the Triple-A franchise in Edmonton, Canada, the Angels will almost certainly renew their affiliation with the Trappers. . . . Joe Maddon, the roving minor league hitting instructor, was named coordinator of instruction. Former Triple-A pitching coach Chuck Hernandez will become the roving pitching instructor, and Eddie Rodriguez, formerly the manager of Double-A Midland, Tex., will become the roving defense instructor.