Abbott Deal Doesn’t Sit Well With Several Angel Fans

After having a day to digest the news, Angel fans are still upset about the deal that sent popular pitcher Jim Abbott to the New York Yankees for three prospects.

Abbott, who has spent four years in the majors, was traded Sunday night to the Yankees for pitchers Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen and first baseman J.T. Snow.

A caller to The Times Sunday night asked if it was true that Abbott had been traded. When she was told of the three players the Angels acquired for the left-hander, she said: “That’s it? They didn’t get anybody better?”

None of the three has more than two months of major league experience.

“I’m probably going to dump two of my six tickets,” said Don Pickler, an Anaheim businessman who has had season tickets for 14 years. “It’s just stupid. It’s crazy. . . . They finally get somebody the fans want to see, and he’s gone. I go to 50 to 55 games a year, now I just wonder if the value of the ticket is still there.”

Stan Trombler, membership chairman of the Angel fan club, isn’t expecting a rush to join the club after the trade.

“It’s a shame,” he said. “Unfortunately, they have their own agenda. I heard a rumbling that a shake-up was coming. I’m sure it had something to do with finances.”

Money appears to have been a major issue.

Springer, Nielsen, and Snow probably will make the major league minimum of $109,000. Abbott made $1.85 million last season and was seeking a deal worth at least $17.5 million.

“For three minor leaguers,” said Peter Gallus, who grew up in Anaheim watching the Angels. “I’m very disappointed. He was the mainstay of the staff. You just can’t trade solid pitching.”

Whitey Herzog, the Angels’ senior vice president, said he takes responsibility for the deal, but it was approved by Gene and Jackie Autry, the owners of the team.

“Jackie Autry runs the show and she doesn’t care about being competitive,” said Joe Reeves who played baseball at Katella High School and is now a school teacher in Big Bear. “Abbott is (one of) the top five pitchers in the American League and who did they get? I don’t know any of them.”