BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Abbott Contract Victim of Deficit

Jim Abbott’s promised long-term contract has become a casualty of the Angels’ projected $8.5-million deficit.

Angel Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien said the financial situation “all plays into” the break-off of talks with Abbott, who was 18-11 last season. Co-owner Jackie Autry said Friday the club faced its largest loss ever and was borrowing to meet expenses.

Even before signing Chuck Finley to a four-year, $18.5-million contract and reliever Bryan Harvey to a four-year, $15.5-million deal last winter, club officials said they intended to sign Abbott to keep the nucleus of the pitching staff intact for the next few years. To avoid arbitration, the sides agreed on a one-year, $1.85-million contract in January.

Abbott said he is upset by their reversal.

“That’s their prerogative, and my job is to go out and play the best I can, but I’m not happy about it,” said Abbott, who battled control problems but was the winner in the Angels’ 13-4 rout of the Indians at Angels Stadium.

Abbott walked four, including a bases-loaded walk to Felix Fermin in the fourth inning that tied the game, 4-4. But his teammates, who had rallied twice in the early innings, surged ahead again on Junior Felix’s three-run double.