Schofield Will Return, McCaskill Still Dealing : Angels: Shortstop accepts arbitration. Pitcher rejects offer, but can continue negotiating with club.

Free-agent shortstop Dick Schofield on Thursday accepted salary arbitration from the Angels, guaranteeing he will return to the club next season. Pitcher Kirk McCaskill rejected arbitration but can still negotiate with the Angels through Jan. 8.

After accepting arbitration, Schofield is considered signed. He can negotiate a new contract with the Angels or the two sides can exchange arbitration figures on Jan. 17 and an arbitrator will pick one of the figures during a hearing.

The Angels had offered Schofield $6 million for three years but withdrew that offer this week. His agent, Dan Grigsby, had spoken to several other clubs, but was unable to work out a deal.

The Kansas City Royals were interested in Schofield, a slick fielder who hit .225 last season, but they recently spent $4.2 million to sign Wally Joyner away from the Angels and are negotiating with Danny Tartabull. They will retain outfielder Jim Eisenreich, who on Thursday accepted arbitration, and can still negotiate with shortstop Kurt Stillwell after Stillwell’s rejection of arbitration.

“We weighed all the options, and Dick said from the very beginning he wants to stay,” Grigsby said. “I hope we can work something out before arbitration. If not, we’ll see what an arbitrator thinks Dick is worth . . . I saw (club President) Richard Brown saying he wanted Dick back, and that helped influence our decision.”

Dan O’Brien said he was pleased with Schofield’s decision, but somewhat surprised Schofield chose to remain with the Angels.

“In light of their disappointment with the $6-million offer and their rejection of that, I had no idea what they would do,” O’Brien said.

He added negotiations would not pick up with that offer. “We’re at Point Zero now,” O’Brien said.

McCaskill’s rejection of arbitration buys him time to work out a deal with the Angels. McCaskill, who was 10-19 last season, met with Red Sox officials this week in Boston, but the Red Sox signed Joe Hesketh to a two-year, $3.55- million contract on Thursday and are near an agreement with Frank Viola on a three-year, $13.9-million contract. McCaskill also spoke to the Orioles, who on Thursday signed Rick Sutcliffe.

O’Brien said the Angels’ three-year offer to McCaskill stands “and we’re going to talk when he returns to California.”