Free Agent Willie Fraser Will Rejoin the Angels

Former Angel Willie Fraser, who was released by the Blue Jays and Cardinals last season, has agreed to a minor league contract with the Angels and will report to spring training as a nonroster player.

The Angels traded Fraser to Toronto in December, 1990 with Devon White for Junior Felix and Luis Sojo. Fraser struggled with the Blue Jays, compiling an 0-2 record and 6.15 earned-run average before being claimed on waivers by St. Louis. He was 3-3 with the Cardinals and had a 4.93 ERA. In his best Angel seasons, Fraser was 10-10 in 1987 and 12-13 in 1988, primarily as a starter.

“We’re going to take him to spring training with the idea of him making the club as a middle or long man,” said Dan O’Brien, the Angels’ senior vice president for operations. “And who knows? He did start for this club for a couple of years.”

Fraser is the third free-agent pitcher signed this winter who will be given a chance to join the starting rotation following the departure of Kirk McCaskill, who signed with the White Sox as a free agent.

The three candidates were a collective 12-22 last season: Don Robinson was 5-9 for San Francisco, Dave Johnson was 4-8 for the Orioles and Fraser was 3-5 with Toronto and St. Louis.

O’Brien also confirmed that the Angels are interested in free-agent catcher Mike Fitzgerald, a six-year veteran who played in Montreal for Angel Manager Buck Rodgers.

Fitzgerald, a Long Beach native, hit .202 in 71 games last season. O’Brien said the club has had preliminary discussions about Fitzgerald. As it stands, incumbent catcher Lance Parrish, who hit .216 last season, will vie with John Orton for the starting job next season.