Fernandomania Gets Change of Venue : Baseball: Angels agree to terms with Valenzuela, whose trip back to the majors begins at Palm Springs.

The Angels, hoping to revive Fernandomania and the pitching career of the man who inspired it, agreed to contract terms with Fernando Valenzuela Monday, almost two months after the Dodgers cast him off after a dismal spring training.

Valenzuela, 30, agreed to an incentive-laden, one-year contract that calls for him to make as many as three minor league starts before pitching in the major leagues again.

“We are hopeful this is the beginning of a new chapter in the Fernando Valenzuela legacy,” said Richard M. Brown, club president.

Valenzuela, who was not present for the team’s announcement, is scheduled to make his first start Wednesday at Palm Springs with the Angels’ Class-A California League team.

The Angels said an evaluation of Valenzuela will be made after three minor league starts--possibly sooner--and if there is a disagreement as to whether he is ready for the major leagues, the contract could be terminated.

“He’ll be here the day after the third (start),” said Dick Moss, who represents Valenzuela along with Tony DeMarco.

The contract, which includes a club option for 1992, is believed to be worth between $1 million and $1.25 million, provided Valenzuela meets all incentives, which account for approximately 25% of that amount. The other 75% is in three tiers, based on advancing from the minors to the major league club and whether he is still with the team in July.

Valenzuela was paid $630,494 by the Dodgers after they released him March 28, after a spring training in which he was 1-2 with a 7.88 earned run-average. His full salary would have been $2.55 million.

The Angels said they were confident of Valenzuela’s physical condition, although they had not seen him pitch. “We have no questions at all,” said Dan O’Brien, senior vice president for baseball operations. “I know he’s a winning pitcher. Historically he’s been very successful. There’s no reason he can’t be here.”

Valenzuela pitched a no-hitter last June 29, the first of his career, but finished with a 4.59 ERA, the worst of any regular National League starter.

He pitched 2,348 2/3 innings in compiling a 141-116 record in slightly more than 10 major league seasons with the Dodgers.

After the Dodgers released him, he had stayed in shape by pitching in a city park, recruiting friends to catch for him. His willingness to prove himself in the minors and to accept a less lucrative contract apparently were critical factors in the Angels’ decision to sign him.

“The figures bandied around in March and April were not acceptable,” Brown said. “Perhaps Fernando realized they were a little high, and that he could prove himself.”

The Angels also anticipate that Valenzuela’s return could spark a revival of the fervor that swept Dodger Stadium in 1981 when he became the first player to win rookie of the year and Cy Young awards in the same season. His popularity resulted in swarms of eager fans each time he pitched.

“When we look for a ballplayer, it is absolutely essential we feel he can contribute to bringing this team a pennant,” Brown said. “The fact that he will attract the Hispanic community is a very pleasant byproduct. It is not the reason we signed him.”

Should Valenzuela return to the major leagues, it would knock one of the Angels’ starters from the rotation, probably giving the team a four left-handed starters.

Scott Lewis, a rookie right-hander, is the Angels’ fifth starter. He has a record of 1-4 with a 6.21 ERA and holds the most likely available job.

Times staff writers Mike DiGiovanna and Mike Penner contributed to this story.

Valenzuela’s Statistics

The 11-season pitching statistics of former Dodger Fernando Valenzuela, who agreed to terms Monday with the Angels.

YEAR W-L ERA IP BB SO 1980 2-0 0.00 17 2/3 5 16 1981 13-7 2.48 192 1/3 61 180 1982 19-13 2.87 285 83 199 1983 15-10 3.75 257 99 189 1984 12-17 3.03 261 106 240 1985 17-10 2.45 272 1/3 101 208 1986 21-11 3.14 269 1/3 85 242 1987 14-14 3.98 251 124 190 1988 5-8 4.24 142 1/3 76 64 1989 10-13 3.43 196 2/3 98 116 1990 13-13 4.59 204 77 115 Totals 141-116 3.31 2348 2/3 915 1759

VALENZUELA’S DODGER STATISTICS

YEAR W-L ERA G CG SHO IP H BB SO 1980 2-0 0.00 10 0 0 17 2/3 8 5 16 1981 13-7 2.48 25 11 8 192 1/3 140 61 180 1982 19-13 2.87 37 18 4 285 247 83 199 1983 15-10 3.75 35 9 4 257 245 99 189 1984 12-17 3.03 34 12 2 261 218 106 240 1985 17-10 2.45 35 14 5 272 1/3 211 101 208 1986 21-11 3.14 34 20 3 269 1/3 226 85 242 1987 14-14 3.98 34 12 1 251 254 124 190 1988 5-8 4.24 23 3 0 142 1/3 142 76 64 1989 10-13 3.43 31 3 0 196 2/3 185 98 116 1990 13-13 4.59 33 5 2 204 223 77 115 Totals 141-116 3.31 331 107 29 2,348 2/3 2,099 915 1,759