With Their Roster Full, Angels Sign Gonzales to Minor League Contract

Infielder Rene Gonzales isn’t worried about going to spring training with the Angels without a guaranteed job. In a similar position last spring, Gonzales played his way into the lineup as the regular second baseman and later as the starting third baseman.

More than two weeks after reaching agreement with Gonzales, the Angels on Wednesday announced that he had signed a one-year, minor league contract with a base salary of $600,000 plus a $150,000 buyout in 1994. If the Angels pick up his 1994 option, he would earn $900,000.

Gonzales, who was a free agent, will report to spring training as a non-roster player. He signed a minor league contract because the Angels have no spots on their 40-man roster.

The Angels also announced the signings of catchers Ron Tingley and Greg Myers and minor league pitcher Mark Holzemer. Terms of their contracts were not disclosed.

Gonzales, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, said he was delighted to stay with the Angels even though Kelly Gruber is ahead of him on the depth chart at third base and Damion Easley will probably start at second.

“I wanted to come back and I’m excited about it,” said Gonzales, who hit .277 last season with seven home runs and 38 runs batted in before a fractured arm curtailed his season in August. “I’m pretty much going to be in the same situation as last year, but I think I’ll be playing somewhere. Buck (Rodgers, the Angels’ manager) is not shy about throwing me in somewhere. It all depends on what develops.”

Tingley hit .197 in 71 games in 1992, with a career-high three home runs and eight RBIs. Myers, acquired from Toronto July 30, played only eight games for the Angels because of a fractured right hand and hit .235. Holzemer, a left-hander, was 2-3 with a 3.83 earned-run average in seven starts for double-A Midland and 5-7 with a 6.67 ERA in 16 starts for triple-A Edmonton.