BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Marshall Signs, Bannister Sent Down

As expected, the Angels signed Mike Marshall to a major league contract after purchasing his contract from Class-A Palm Springs. To make room on the roster, left-hander Floyd Bannister was optioned to Palm Springs with the intent that he become a starter and eventually try to fill the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

Marshall was released by the Red Sox on July 21 and signed by the Angels on July 26. Boston will pay his base salary of $1.2 million, minus his Angel earnings of about $38,000, based on the major league minimum of $100,000 and the number of days he is on the roster. His agreement is for the remainder of this season.

Marshall will give first baseman Wally Joyner an occasional rest and replace designated hitter Dave Parker against left-handers. “It’s not going to be a whole lot of playing time, but I’m going to work my way in and see what happens,” Marshall said.

Bannister, who pitched solely in relief this season, goes willingly to Palm Springs. His first start hasn’t been scheduled; Manager Doug Rader said Bannister will probably need three or four outings to be evaluated.

“In the last month or so, I haven’t gotten a lot of innings in,” said Bannister, who has pitched seven innings since June 30, and 25 this season. “This gives me a chance to extend myself, get my arm strong and bounce back. I’ll get to use a full warm-up instead of pitching from the stretch and I can use all four of my pitches. My arm feels good after (pitching four innings Thursday), so all in all, I’m real positive.”

Angel Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien said he won’t use top prospect Kyle Abbott in the fifth starting spot. Abbott is 11-7 at triple-A Edmonton, but O’Brien wants to avoid bringing him up only to have him lose confidence if he struggles.

“There’s no reason to put him in a situation like this when he’s enjoying success where he is,” O’Brien said of Abbott. “If we did call him up, it would be in September (after rosters expand to 40).”

Center fielder Junior Felix, sidelined since June 19 because of a pulled right calf muscle, will be examined by team physician Lewis Yocum this weekend. A decision on his fitness will follow. . . . Jim Abbott’s third-inning strikeout of Henry Cotto Friday was Abbott’s 100th this season. He has had at least 100 in each of his three Angel seasons.