Sky Is Limit for Players in Arbitration : Baseball: With the market up, Finley asks the Angels for a $2-million raise, Daniels wants $1.8 more from the Dodgers, and 11 players want $3-million salaries.

Chuck Finley’s bid for a $2-million salary increase, Kal Daniels’ quest for a raise of $1.8 million and Fernando Valenzuela’s shot at a salary of $2.7 million highlighted arbitration filings by 18 Angels and Dodgers Friday.

They also characterized a continuing escalation in the baseball market.

Only 14 months after Kirby Puckett became the first player to receive a salary of $3 million a year, that plateau is crowded.

Twenty-seven players have contracts calling for annual average salaries of $3 million or more, and 11 others will be attempting to join them through arbitration.

The 138 eligible players and their clubs exchanged figures Friday, with both Glenn Davis and Bobby Bonilla shattering the filing record of $3.4 million, set by the Milwaukee Brewers’ Robin Yount last year.

Davis, who made $1.985 million with the Houston Astros in 1990 and was traded to the Baltimore Orioles last week, filed at $3.65 million, compared to the $2.9 million offered by the Orioles.

Bonilla, who made $1.25 million in helping lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a National League East title, is seeking a $2.225-million jump to $3.475 million.

The payroll-conscious Pirates filed at $2.4 million and face a possible monetary drubbing because Doug Drabek, asking for $3.35 million, and Barry Bonds, $3.25 million, are also among the 11.

The others:

Jack Morris, $3.35 million; Fred McGriff, Kelly Gruber and Mark McGwire, $3.3 million; Gary Gaetti, $3.2 million; Ruben Sierra, $3.1 million; and Tom Candiotti, $3.05 million.

Morris and Gaetti are new-look free agents but filed as a form of protection in case they return to the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins, respectively.

The arbitration hearings will be held in February, with an arbitrator choosing either the figure submitted by the club or player. Negotiations can continue until the hearing begins.

Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees set the arbitration record when he was awarded a $1.975-million salary in 1987, but that, too, figures to fall.

Sixty-two players are seeking $1 million or more, including the 11 at $3 million and 19 others at $2 million.

In a rare development, Montreal Expo pitcher Drew Hall and his club both filed at $225,000, which automatically becomes his salary.

Equally rare for arbitration, Mickey Hatcher and Jeff Hamilton of the Dodgers and Wally Joyner and Scott Bailes of the Angels face possible salary cuts. Only nine players in the 17-year history of the process have been cut.

Hatcher, who made $500,000 in salary and bonus last year, filed at $600,000, the Dodgers at $450,000.

Hamilton, who made $465,000 last year, filed at $538,000, the Dodgers at $430,000.

Bailes, who made $425,000 last year, filed at $500,000, the Angels at $390,000.

And Joyner, who made $1.75 million when he hit eight homers, drove in 41 runs and missed half the season because of a broken kneecap, filed at $2.1 million, compared to the club’s $1.65 million.

“Nothing the Angels do surprises me, but I’m pleased they came in so low because it gives us a better chance of succeeding in our case,” Joyner’s attorney, Barry Axelrod, said.

Axelrod also said that he felt Joyner was entitled to a raise on the basis of comparative salary, career production and an adjusted salary scale arbitrators will be using, compensating for the collusion years.

“If Wally would have had a full season at his half-season pace, we’d be asking for $3 million,” Axelrod said.

Finley, who made $800,000 in going 18-9 with a 2.40 earned-run average, is seeking the biggest jump among the nine Angels, filing at $2.8 million, compared to the club’s $1.75 million.

Kirk McCaskill, who earned $967,500 while going 12-11, came in at $2.4 million, compared to the club’s $1.65 million.

General Manager Mike Port said the numbers are simply reflective of the market, and he is optimistic of pre-arbitration settlement in most cases.

“Today’s filings more definitively stake out each side’s position and help get things done,” he said.

The Dodgers, who have had only one case go to arbitration in the last three years, erased one threat Friday when Jose Gonzalez agreed to a one-year deal, but of the nine other cases, Executive Vice President Fred Claire reflected on the numbers and said:

“We face an extremely difficult task with some of them.”

He may have alluded to Tim Belcher’s request for a $450,000 raise, Tim Crews’ bid for $575,000 raise and Jim Gott’s request for a $1,076,087 raise.

Valenzuela’s contract is likely to be worked out next week when his representatives meet with Claire. Valenzuela, who made $2.2 million last year, filed at $2.7 million, compared to the club’s $2.4 million.

He was 13-13 last year, and his 1991 role with the team isn’t clear. He could be cut before opening day, leaving the Dodgers responsible for only one-sixth of his salary, but the $2.7 million seems modest in today’s market.

DODGER, ANGEL ARBITRATION FIGURES DODGERS

Player 1990 Salary Player Club Tim Belcher $450,000 $1,350,000 $900,000 Tim Crews 215,000 790,000 550,000 Kal Daniels 600,000 2,400,000 1,650,000 Jim Gott 873,913 1,950,000 1,500,000 Jeff Hamilton 465,000 538,000 430,000 Mickey Hatcher 500,000 600,000 450,000 Stan Javier 310,000 675,000 600,000 Juan Samuel 1,250,000 1,750,000 1,400,000 Fernando Valenzuela 2,200,000 2,700,000 2,400,000

ANGELS

Player 1990 Salary Player Club Scott Bailes $425,000 $500,000 $390,000 Chuck Finley 800,000 2,800,000 1,750,000 Dave Gallagher 150,000 460,000 225,000 Bryan Harvey 332,500 1,225,000 850,000 Jack Howell 652,500 835,000 652,500 Wally Joyner 1,750,000 2,100,000 1,650,000 Kirk McCaskill 967,500 2,400,000 1,650,000 Luis Polonia 220,000 870,000 625,000 Max Venable 235,000 475,000 375,000