Angels Show Interest in Getting Fernando

Angel President Richard Brown said the club is having “very cordial and very productive” talks with Fernando Valenzuela’s agents, but Brown declined to assess the likelihood of the Angels signing the former Dodger pitcher.

Brown said talks with Tony DeMarco and Dick Moss heated up Saturday, days after Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien said he had returned DeMarco’s calls as a courtesy and didn’t expect anything to come of it. Brown said the talks became earnest when Valenzuela indicated he would accept a deal based on incentives.

When the Dodgers released Valenzuela on March 29, they had to pay him $630,494.

“It’s a four-step process,” Brown said by phone from his Los Angeles home. “First is to enter into a mutually acceptable arrangement that relies heavily on incentives. Second is some period of time to watch him pitch competitively, probably several starts in the minor leagues. If he passes that, then we’d bring him up to the major leagues.

“He’s a starter and we have to view him as a starter. On this team, we’d have to look at who’s on the DL, who’s pitching badly (before putting him into the rotation). He would have to pitch better than any of our five starters. If our five starters are pitching well, we’d have to see.”

Moss said he thought Valenzuela would be willing to pitch a few games in the minors, “if that’s what it takes.”

Angel Manager Doug Rader also said Valenzuela would be considered only as a starter.

“If a guy can help us, I’m all for it,” Rader said. “Hopefully, it will work out, and he can still get people out, and he’s signable.”

Rookie right-hander Scott Lewis, the fifth starter, is struggling at 1-4. When Angel pitching coach Marcel Lachemann was asked Friday if he had felt any temptation to remove Lewis from the rotation, he said: “Right now there isn’t.”

A factor working against Valenzuela is the Angels already have three left-handers in their rotation in Chuck Finley, Jim Abbott and Mark Langston.

Brown said he expects a resolution to the Valenzuela talks this week.

DeMarco said Valenzuela has been pitching simulated games twice a week and is in “tip-top condition.”

Asked if Valenzuela would be pitching again professionally, DeMarco said: “Soon. I hope it’s very soon.” He also said: “You can assume (the Angels) are not the only ones” with whom he has talked.

Said Moss: “It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone.”