BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Jackie Autry Vetoes Felix for Clark

The Angels, whose attempt to trade Junior Felix to the Boston Red Sox for Jack Clark was vetoed by co-owner Jackie Autry because of Clark’s hefty salary, offered Felix to the Cubs for outfielder Jerome Walton and a pitcher only to have the Cubs decline.

Jackie Autry refused to approve the acquisition of Clark’s $2.9-million salary, but Walton earns a more modest $525,000. It’s believed the Angels are interested in Bob Scanlan, a right-hander who will earn $150,000 this season.

Larry Himes, Cub executive vice president, told the Chicago Sun-Times the Cubs are looking for a hitter, but added: “I’m not interested in Junior Felix.” He also said he has been talking to the other clubs besides the Angels.

Luis Sojo, who sprained his left thumb Tuesday when he jammed his hand into the bag on a stolen base attempt, probably won’t hit for several days. “It’s not as bad as (Tuesday), but it’s still sore,” Sojo said. . . . Bryan Harvey (sore right elbow) threw in the bullpen for about 10 minutes without problems. . . . To assemble an all right-handed hitting lineup against Mark Langston, Texas Manager Bobby Valentine moved Julio Franco from second base to left field, Franco’s first professional outfield start. With Ruben Sierra idled by a pulled hamstring, Valentine had no other right-handed outfielders. Al Newman played second.

Curtis sat for the fifth consecutive game, his longest idle stretch. “With Junior back (from a pulled groin muscle), it makes it difficult to get him in there, and we haven’t faced many left-handed pitchers to give Luis (Polonia) or Von (Hayes) a rest,” interim Manager John Wathan said. “I’m going to get him in this weekend (against Oakland). I talked to him and told him he’s still important to this club. I know about as well as anybody how it can be when you sit. I did it for a lot of years.”

The Palm Springs Angels won the first-half Southern Division title in the California League. . . . Wathan visited Manager Buck Rodgers Wednesday and found him in good spirits. “There’s a chance he can come back by the end of July, or at least he’s hopeful of that,” said Wathan, who confers with Rodgers about roster moves and other changes every few days.