Angels Get Mets’ Valera for Schofield

Having fulfilled their promise to trade Dick Schofield if he wasn’t their starting shortstop this season, the Angels now hope right-hander Julio Valera will fulfill the promise he showed in the New York Mets’ farm system.

The Angels traded Schofield on Sunday for Valera. The Angels will also receive a player later.

“The fact is we needed a pitcher, and we didn’t feel we had one of that quality,” said Whitey Herzog, the Angels’ senior vice president for player personnel.

The trade was prompted by Chuck Finley’s toe injury and Scott Bailes’ injured left hip, which put Bailes on the disabled list Sunday and will do the same for Finley today. Finley’s listing will be retroactive to April 6.

“I’ve been hearing things since December, but when Dan O’Brien (Angel senior vice president) called this morning and told me, I said, ‘This can’t be happening,” said Schofield, who batted .232 in 1,061 games with the Angels.

“I was a little disappointed not to be playing, and I kind of had the feeling from Day 1 they were going in a different direction. I think this is going to be great, and it’s going to work out the best for all of us.”

The Mets were prompted to act by the status of shortstop Kevin Elster, who underwent shoulder surgery in September of 1990 and started only 98 games last season.

“The staff felt we couldn’t wait any longer for Elster’s arm strength to improve,” Met General Manager Al Harazin said.

Valera, 23, was 10-10 at triple-A Tidewater last season. The 6-3, 215-pound native of Puerto Rico was 1-0 with Tidewater this season and was 1-1 in two stints with the Mets in 1990 and 1991. He was to meet the Angels today in Arlington, Tex.