BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Mum’s the Word on Winfield’s Future

Although Angel officials have said they want to re-sign Dick Schofield and Wally Joyner, who will be eligible for free agency at the end of the season, they’ve said nothing about Dave Winfield’s future. The Angels can pick up Winfield’s option at $3 million or buy him out for $450,000. A buyout is possible because of his salary, his age--he will be 40 on Oct. 3--and his second-half fade. Winfield was hitting .280 at the All-Star break with 18 home runs and 57 runs batted in, but entered Monday’s game against Toronto at .258 with 23 homers and 78 RBIs.

Winfield’s agent, Jeff Klein, said Monday the Angels haven’t discussed their plans for the outfielder since Buck Rodgers replaced Doug Rader as manager and Whitey Herzog became the club’s senior vice president and director of player personnel. However, Klein said he has “no reason” to think they don’t want Winfield back.

“Am I worried? No,” Klein said. “If they don’t want him, he’ll play somewhere else. It’s their decision to make. They have to decide what’s Dave Winfield’s value to the California Angels. . . . I would expect to see him back and I know he’d like to stay.”

If he stays, it’s likely to be as designated hitter. He has started in right field only six times in the 24 games he has played since Rodgers became manager. Rodgers has ruled out Winfield playing first base, a thought Winfield had voiced last season, but Rodgers hasn’t decided whether Winfield will be exclusively a DH.

“In his own way, he doesn’t want to be a DH. It’s something no complete player wants,” Rodgers said. “But it’s at a stage where you have to evaluate the way the club is going to be set up (next season) and what’s going to be the best thing for the club. . . . I can’t say, ‘This guy is going to be here and that guy is going to be there,’ because so much depends on the makeup of the club, even down to the bench players.”

For Rodgers, the Angels’ just-completed trip to Texas and Chicago was successful because of the performances of rookie pitchers Joe Grahe, Kyle Abbott and Scott Lewis. Their showings will greatly affect the Angels’ off-season moves. “Can we say the pitching staff can be left alone and solve our problems from within our organization or with very minor changes?” he said. “If we can, that would be a big plus.”

Rodgers also said he can’t assume right-hander Bert Blyleven, who underwent rotator cuff surgery in April, will be fit to pitch again next season.

Right-hander Kirk McCaskill, scratched from his Sunday start because of a back problem, is scheduled to start Saturday at Kansas City. Mike Fetters will also get two starts, but Abbott isn’t likely to start again. . . . Joyner missed his third consecutive game because of a sprained right ankle. His status is day to day. . . . Center fielder Junior Felix, sidelined since Sept. 10 because of a strained rib-cage muscle, was available for limited duty. . . . Infielder Donnie Hill was idled by a rib-cage muscle strain.