BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Herzog Setting His Sights on the Free-Agent Market

Whitey Herzog, Angel player personnel director, said that the club would enter the free agent market this winter to hasten the process of building a contending team in 1992.

“I am interested in getting a prime-time free agent that’s on the up side of his career who can fit into the middle of the Angel lineup for years,” Herzog said. “That’s my objective, after signing Wally Joyner and Dick Schofield. If we do, we can turn this thing around.”

Among the prominent potential free agents who would fit that description are Pittsburgh’s Bobby Bonilla and Kansas City’s Danny Tartabull. Wary of possible tampering charges, Herzog would not specify the players he might pursue.

“I wish Wally Joyner and his agent would call up and say, ‘We want to remain in California,’ and I’d sign him, bang,” Herzog said.

“I know I can sit down and strike a deal if he wants to remain an Angel. He knows and I know if he wants to strike a deal, we can do it, and I’ll be fair.”

Third baseman Gary Gaetti, finishing the first season of a four-year, $11.4-million contract, said that he had no regrets about leaving the Twins despite what would appear to be bad timing.

“I didn’t base my decision on them being in first place on Oct. 1 or whatever, and us being in last,” said Gaetti, who has 63 runs batted in this season, 21 fewer than his average during his first nine full seasons. “I’m not going to look back. I did what was right at the time.”

Outfielder Shawn Abner, whose contract will expire after the season, said he doesn’t expect to return in 1992. “They’ve got Gally (Dave Gallagher) and Max (Venable) who do what I do,” said Abner, who has hit .224 in 39 games since being acquired from San Diego for Jack Howell on July 30. . . . Dick Schofield rejoined the lineup Saturday after his wife, Lisa, gave birth to the couple’s first child on Friday. Gracie Elizabeth Schofield, who weighed in at 7 pounds 8 ounces, is doing fine, as are her parents.

The Angels’ pitching staff was virtually sure of compiling the fewest complete games in club history. They had 17 complete games before Saturday, and the club record is 19, set in 1967. . . . The Angels had hit 112 homers before Saturday, their fewest in a non-strike season since they hit 106 in 1980. . . . They had scored 645 runs before Saturday, their fewest since they scored 628 in 1975.