Angels Could Sign Nixon Today : Baseball: Agent says team has first shot at outfielder, but price is more than $8 million. He would add needed speed to the lineup.

The Angels have made no secret of their desire to sign free-agent outfielder Otis Nixon, and they can make that wish come true today.

After two rounds of talks with the Angels and Atlanta Braves, Nixon’s agent, Joe Sroba, said, “California has got the shot to end it right now” by agreeing to a two-year contract with a third year at Nixon’s option.

The potential value of the deal exceeds $8 million, at least $500,000 more than the second offer the Braves made to retain him. Nixon earned $585,000 last season.

Because Senior Vice President Whitey Herzog left the baseball meetings Wednesday morning for his home in suburban St. Louis, two hours before the rest of the Angels’ delegation returned to California, the Angels were unable to make a decision on Nixon. Sroba planned to get the Angels’ answer today from Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien.

“If the Angels respond (affirmatively), I’m not going to offer him to Atlanta,” Sroba said.

Nixon, 32, has 18 days left on a 60-day suspension imposed after he tested positive for drug use. He missed the final weeks of the Braves’ National League West title drive, as well as the playoffs and World Series. He will be eligible to participate in spring training exercises but not in exhibition games; however, he would be permitted to sign a minor league contract before his suspension ends.

The Angels have projected Nixon as their center fielder and leadoff hitter, an addition that would bring speed to a slow-footed lineup. In 124 games last season, Nixon stole 72 bases, 22 fewer than the Angels’ team total. He hit .297, raising his career average to .246.

Although Herzog had expressed doubts about his chance of signing Nixon because he believed Nixon felt an obligation to the Braves, Sroba said his client’s loyalties are evenly divided.

He cited Nixon’s affection for Angel Manager Buck Rodgers, who managed Nixon in Montreal, and for O’Brien, who helped place Nixon in a drug treatment program when both were with Cleveland.

“I asked him if it was 60-40, 50-50, 51-49 and he said, ‘It’s a tossup,’ ” Sroba said.

Nixon will be subject to random drug testing next season. He also would forfeit some of his salary if he tested positive for drug use again.

“We wouldn’t consider asking them to guarantee money in case of a relapse,” Sroba said. “That would be morally wrong. If Otis has a relapse, he doesn’t deserve that (payment) and he knows it.”

Before departing, Herzog said the money offered to Nixon “is a lot more than either club anticipated.” If the Angels don’t sign him, Herzog plans to play Junior Felix in center. Chad Curtis, who stole 44 bases in 115 games with triple-A Edmonton last season, would also get a chance in spring training, Herzog said.

By making three trades, re-signing Chuck Finley and losing Wally Joyner to Kansas City, the Angels stole the show at the winter meetings. Herzog said he will continue to make phone calls while on vacation in Colorado this weekend.

“I enjoy this part,” Herzog said as he prepared to leave for the airport, “because now I get to go skiing.”

The Angels got some of what they wanted here, but they have other moves in mind. O’Brien said he was waiting to hear from Marvin Demoff, who represents free-agent pitcher Kirk McCaskill, and will talk with Dick Schofield’s agent, Dan Grigsby, this week. “I think we’ve helped ourselves,” O’Brien said, “but there’s more to be done, probably offensively.”

Angel Notes

Dennis Gilbert, accused by Whitey Herzog of misleading the Angels about Bobby Bonilla’s desire to play in California, said he and Herzog “haven’t settled anything” despite speaking briefly Tuesday. Herzog declined to discuss their conversation. “No comment,” Herzog said, with a wink. Asked if he and Gilbert might re-establish their once-cordial relationship, Herzog again winked and added: “I love Dennis.”

Angel President Richard Brown, responding to agent Barry Axelrod’s statement that Wally Joyner had “left open the possibility of returning to the Angels providing Whitey is really running the show,” said he would take Joyner back someday “if we needed a first baseman.”

“I have no personal animosity toward Wally Joyner,” Brown said of Joyner, who Monday signed a one-year deal with the Royals. “It would depend on what his status is and our status. . . . I don’t like Wally Joyner any less today than yesterday. I’ve always liked Wally Joyner. Maybe in the back of his mind, he didn’t want to stay with the California Angels and just didn’t realize it at the time.”