ANGELS : Boone Would Gladly Rejoin His Old Team

Bob Boone, who left the Angels for the Kansas City Royals two years ago and is now a free agent, believes an Angel halo would fit him perfectly next season.

The Angels aren’t sure whether Boone, who celebrated his 43rd birthday Monday and has caught a major league-record 2,225 games, fits into their plans. But the backup spot behind Lance Parrish did become vacant when Bill Schroeder was released, and John Orton remains unproven after batting .190 in 31 games with the Angels and .241 with triple-A Edmonton.

“I know I can still catch. I’d like to be the No. 1 catcher, and yet, backing up is not hateful to me,” said Boone, a Villa Park resident. “If I were to be the backup, here is the best place to be. There seems to be a fit there, but it’s really not up to me. It doesn’t matter what I think of me--it’s what everyone else thinks of me.”

Boone left the Angels after winning two consecutive Gold Glove awards and going to arbitration to keep his salary at $883,000. He signed with the Royals for $883,001 and the promise of being the starting catcher. He earned $1.9 million in 1990 and played in only 40 games because of a broken finger--his first stint on the disabled list in 18 seasons--and the Royals’ decision to overhaul their aging team.

Rejoining the Angels wouldn’t be a problem for Boone, who was one of the club’s most popular players in his seven seasons and has a good relationship with owner Gene Autry.

“My first choice would be to be in a position to have the chance to play every day,” Boone said. “If that isn’t possible, (returning) would be outstanding. Lance and I are extremely good friends. If I came to the Angels I’d know exactly what my role would be and I’d accept that. I did that last year after I was injured.”

General Manager Mike Port hasn’t evaluated Boone’s chances. “A lot of other things are available at this point, such as free agency and possible trades,” Port said. “It’s among a range of possibilities.”

Boone said he’d consider all offers, but if he gets none, he won’t be idle. He was asked to manage a prospective National League expansion team in Orlando, Fla., in 1993, although the city’s hopes of being awarded a franchise appear dim. Or he can work with his brother in their development company in San Juan Capistrano. “There are a lot of things I want to do,” he said.

What he wants most, though, is to play one more year and perhaps last long enough to play with or against his son, Bret, who played for Seattle’s Class-A affiliate in Virginia last summer.

“I love playing and I can compete on this level,” Boone said. “Pitchers are going to tell me if I can or can’t compete anymore. I want to play and I think I can play, but obviously, I need some cooperation from an employer.”

Eager to retool for 1991, the Angels might not wait for the winter meetings to begin their off-season moves.

Tuesday, Port said trades that could affect the infield and the outfield “are sitting at the apex of things,” and are near consummation. It’s believed that the Angels are interested in New York Yankee second baseman Steve Sax, while the Yankees have interest in Angel third baseman Jack Howell and outfielder Dante Bichette.

Port said he has had repeated talks with the Yankees but wouldn’t comment specifically about Sax. However, Port said rumors of the Angels’ interest in Cleveland second baseman Jerry Browne and Atlanta second baseman Jeff Treadway are unfounded.

“A couple of things are at the point of one or the other saying, ‘Yes, I will take that offer,’ or, ‘No, I won’t do that.’ I am expecting calls back,” Port said.

Sax, who left the Dodgers to sign with the Yankees as a free agent in November, 1988, slipped in batting average from .315 in 1989 to .260 last season. The 30-year-old West Sacramento native is an average fielder but his speed would be an asset to the Angels.

Sax reportedly fell out of favor with Yankee Manager Stump Merrill last season and could be expendable, although the Yankees don’t consider second base prospect Pat Kelly ready for the major leagues.