Angels, Polonia Agree to $770,000 Deal : Baseball: Club continues to try to sign Finley. His arbitration hearing is set for today.

Angel outfielder Luis Polonia agreed to a one-year contract worth $770,000 plus incentives Wednesday, and club officials also were hopeful of coming to terms with pitcher Chuck Finley before Finley’s arbitration hearing today in Chicago.

Polonia, acquired from the New York Yankees last April 29 for Claudell Washington and Rich Monteleone, flourished as the Angels’ leadoff hitter. He led the club with a .335 batting average but finished 66 plate appearances short of qualifying for the American League batting title. He earned $220,000 last season and had filed for arbitration at $870,000. The Angels had filed at $625,000.

Polonia can earn 1991 bonuses of $20,000 if he plays in 115 games or makes 375 plate appearances, $25,000 for 125 games or 425 plate appearances and $30,000 for 135 games or 450 plate appearances.

Of the nine Angels who were scheduled for hearings, six avoided arbitration by agreeing to contracts, and only one--Wally Joyner--has had a hearing. Joyner won a record $2.1-million award Saturday after the Angels had attempted to cut his salary by $100,000 to $1.65 million. Finley’s hearing is set for 2 p.m., CST, today, and a hearing for third baseman Jack Howell is scheduled for next Thursday.

Angel General Manager Mike Port characterized negotiations with Finley’s agent, Alan Hendricks, as cordial enough to make an agreement today possible. Dan O’Brien, Angel senior vice president, flew to Chicago Wednesday to continue talks and prepare for a hearing if the sides don’t agree. Finley, an 18-game winner last season, filed at $2.8 million. The Angels filed at $1.75 million but have since raised their offer to a range of $2.2 to $2.4 million.