BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES

Angel coach John Wathan won’t be managing the Colorado Rockies next season. Wathan, one of eight interviewed for the job, was told he was not among the final four Thursday night when Bob Gebhard, Rockie general manager, called him at home.

“It was funny, because I had been told I was among the top three, then Bob told me I wasn’t in the final four,” said Wathan, who also interviewed for the Florida Marlins job but wasn’t a finalist. “I told Geb to call me back in a couple of years after they fire their manager and keep me in mind. That’ll be a good situation, with a new stadium and all.”

Wathan said he understood that Don Baylor, former Brewer manager Tom Trebelhorn, Bill Virdon and Tony Muser were the final four.

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The Angels and Yankees apparently are still discussing a deal involving Jim Abbott. Whitey Herzog, Angel senior vice president, had asked for pitcher Mark Hutton, first base prospect J.T. Snow and center fielder Bernie Williams, but the Yankees don’t want to part with Hutton and instead suggested Sam Militello. An associate of Scott Boras, Abbott’s agent, said Boras and the Angels have had no talks since the Angels vetoed a four-year, $17.5-million proposal that would have evenly split the monetary difference between the two sides. . . . Infielder Bobby Rose has been sold by the Angels to the Yokohama Taiyo Whales of the Japanese Central League. The contract is guaranteed for the 1993 season with a club option for 1994, the Angels said. Rose, 25, started this past season as the Angels’ second baseman, eventually losing the job to Rene Gonzales.