Polonia to File for Arbitration : Angels: Agent says outfielder will ask for more than $2.5 million.

Seeking the largest salary award in Angel history, outfielder Luis Polonia will file today for arbitration, his agent said Thursday.

Polonia is expected to submit a salary request in excess of $2.5 million, eclipsing the $2.1 million former Angel first baseman Wally Joyner received in 1991.

“We feel Luis is one of the top leadoff hitters in the game,” said agent Chuck Berry, “and he should be paid accordingly. Luis has always been considered a very good player, but has never received star recognition, which detracts a little bit from him.

“I think that will change this year.”

Polonia, who has a career .299 batting average, attempted to get a multiyear contract from the Angels but was rejected. Although Polonia is eligible for free agency after the 1993 season, the Angels chose not to explore a multiyear deal because of potential labor unrest.

“They’ve been hoping for a multiyear contract the last three months,” said Dan O’Brien, Angel vice president/baseball operations, “but we’re not going to go that route. The uncertainty of the labor situation certainly plays into that.”

Said Berry: “Certainly, that’s their prerogative, but it will be our choice next year.”

Polonia, who earned $1.65 million last season after losing his arbitration case, will exchange salary figures Tuesday with the Angels. Arbitration hearings will be scheduled Feb. 1-15.

“I think it’s possible, if not likely, that we’ll have something worked out before then,” O’Brien said.

Polonia’s salary request will not be revealed until Tuesday, but Berry said Polonia is not seeking to become the highest-paid leadoff hitter in baseball. Brett Butler of the Dodgers and Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics hold that distinction with $3-million salaries for the 1993 season.

“The thing going against Luis is that his numbers fell off from the year before,” said Berry, referring to Polonia’s .286 batting average and 35 runs batted in during 1992. In 1991, he hit .296 and drove in 50 runs.

“We know he was voted the MVP of the Angels, but unfortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot to choose from. You have trouble building a case for a guy who has speed, but not much power. I don’t think this is the year he’ll end up as the best-paid leadoff hitter.”

Reliever Steve Frey, the only other eligible player with the Angels, also said Thursday he will file for arbitration. Frey, who was 4-2 with a 3.57 earned-run average last season, earned $155,000 in 1992. He is expected to seek an award that will double his salary.

“I think it will be a case that we’ll be able to resolve rather easily,” said Steve Comte, Frey’s agent.