Finley Hopes to Surpass Joyner’s Record Award

Angel first baseman Wally Joyner was the first player ever to win a $2-million arbitration judgment, but his record $2.1-million award might not even be a team record by Friday.

The five-year, $21.5-million contract extension given Boston pitcher Roger Clemens last week could help Angel pitcher Chuck Finley, whose arbitration hearing is scheduled for Thursday in Chicago. Finley filed at $2.8 million, compared with the Angels’ $1.75 million.

He led the Angels last season with 18 victories and had a 2.40 earned-run average, second in the American League to Clemens’ 1.93.

Finley’s agent, Alan Hendricks, who also represents Clemens, wouldn’t say Monday whether he will bolster his case by comparing Finley’s accomplishments with Clemens’. However, he acknowledged that comparing players with similar statistics is standard in such hearings, and Clemens’ contract could benefit Finley.

“It’s part of the structure of baseball, let’s put it that way,” Hendricks said of the comparisons.

Hendricks added he and the Angels are discussing a one-year contract for Finley but wouldn’t predict whether an agreement could be reached before the hearing.

Angel Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien said he also expected talks to continue.

The Angels announced Monday they had signed first baseman Greg Walker to a contract with Triple-A Edmonton. Walker, who played for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles last season, will report to training camp as a non-roster player. His best season was 1985, when he hit .258 for the White Sox with 24 home runs and 92 runs batted in.

A hearing for outfielder Dave Gallagher, one of three other Angels with arbitration cases pending, is scheduled for Wednesday in Chicago. Gallagher filed at $460,000, compared with the Angels’ figure of $225,000. Hearings for Jack Howell and Luis Polonia are set for Feb. 21 in Chicago and New York, respectively.