BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Rodgers Asks All Coaches to Try It Again Next Season

Manager Buck Rodgers said Saturday he has invited the entire coaching staff to return next season in the same roles. Rodgers asked the coaches to respond by the final home stand of the season but will give more time to John Wathan, who on Tuesday will fly to Miami to interview for the managerial job with the expansion Florida Marlins.

Wathan began the season as the third base coach and became the interim manager when Rodgers was injured in the team’s May 21 bus accident. When Rodgers returned, Wathan became a dugout coach and Ken Macha--who had moved from the bullpen to the third base coaching box--remained at third. Wathan said he has been contacted by several other teams about managerial jobs, but he declined to identify those teams.

“If I don’t get an opportunity to manage somewhere, I’d love to come back,” said Wathan, who was 36-49 as Rodgers’ replacement. “The thing I like is I’ve coached from the bullpen, at third, at first and now from the bench, and the more things you can do in baseball, the better off you are.”

Macha, who spent six years as Rodgers’ bullpen coach in Montreal, indicated he would return. “Got any better offers?” he asked. “I’m glad they invited me back. It’s nice being at third base. I kind of feel bad for John, because he gave me the opportunity to go out and coach third and it’s a tough situation for him. Who knows? Maybe he’ll get a job with one of the expansion teams.”

Said Rodgers: “Macha has become an excellent third base coach. I just like the effort we’ve been getting going from second to third and on the bases and I want to keep it that way. Kenny has shown excellent judgment.”

Marcel Lachemann, the pitching coach the past nine years, didn’t give Rodgers an answer Saturday. “There are a lot of things I’m kicking around right now,” he said. But first base coach Bobby Knoop said he plans to return for his 15th season on the staff. “I’m glad he invited me,” Knoop said.

Hitting instructor Rod Carew is torn between loving his job and hating the travel. “The only thing I don’t like about it is being on airplanes,” he said. “You couldn’t ask to be in a better situation to be in than this, with the way the guys have been so receptive. It’s been easier than I thought it would be. It’s been fun.”

Rodgers also said bullpen catcher Rick Turner will have greater duties next season, including working with the relievers and the pitching coach.

Conditioning coach Jimmie Reese, who will be 91 Oct. 1, also plans to be back. “I’ll be here until they back up the wagon,” he said.

Final details of Pete Janicki’s contract are expected to be settled by Monday. The three-year deal for Janicki, the UCLA pitcher who was the Angels’ first-round draft pick, will be worth $585,000 with a potential of $730,000 if he meets various incentives. He will get a $90,000 signing bonus, $125,000 his first year, $155,000 his second and $215,000 his third year.