Pitching Woes Prompt Angels to Talk to Russell, 3 Starters : Baseball: Sanderson, Milacki, Terrell also are free agents.

Apprehensive about their bullpen and in dire need of a fifth starter, the Angels confirmed Wednesday they have had preliminary talks with free agent reliever Jeff Russell and three veteran starters.

Russell, a two-time All-Star who has at least 30 saves in three of the last four seasons, is considered the most prestigious remaining free agent. If the Angels are successful in acquiring Russell, he would replace Bryan Harvey, who was selected by the Florida Marlins in the expansion draft. It also would allow the Angels to use Joe Grahe as a setup man or return him to the starting rotation.

“He’s a guy we’re certainly talking about,” said Dan O’Brien, Angel vice president/baseball operations, “but it’s premature to know if we will get something done. We’ll see how things develop next week.”

Russell, 31, who spent seven years in the Texas Ranger organization before being traded Aug. 31 in a package for Oakland Athletic outfielder Jose Canseco, also is having discussions with the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves. The Red Sox, according to a front-office official, are prepared to offer Russell a base salary of about $500,000 with incentives worth more than $1 million.

“There are teams coming back in the hunt for Jeff that had previously disappeared,” said Alan Hendricks, Russell’s agent. “Teams are saying, ‘Gee, we like that guy, I didn’t think he’d still be around. If we can get him on a one-year deal. . . .’ ”

Russell, who was paid $2.35 million last season in the final year of a three-year, $5.8 million contract, lost much of his market value because of a diagnosed bone spur in his right elbow.

The Angels, who have only John Farrell as a viable candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, also have had discussions with free agent starters Scott Sanderson, Bob Milacki and Walt Terrell. O’Brien said the Angels would like to reach an agreement with one of the starters by next week, and still are hopeful Farrell can return after sitting out the last two years because of reconstructive elbow surgery.

Sanderson, 36, perhaps is the most dependable of the trio. He has won at least 11 games in each of the last four seasons, pitching a minimum of 193 innings the last three seasons. Sanderson, 12-11 with a 4.93 earned-run average, was paid $2 million last season but the New York Yankees did not exercise his $2.5 million option in 1993.

Milacki, 28, might be the most intriguing pitcher of the group. He was the Baltimore Orioles’ No. 1 starter during his 1989 rookie season, when he went 14-12 with a 3.74 ERA. He was the first rookie to lead the American League in starts (36) since 1918. Yet, he has been erratic since, going 21-25 with only one uninterrupted season in the big leagues. He had a 6-8 record and 5.84 ERA with the Orioles last season, and was 7-1 with a 4.57 ERA at triple-A Hagerstown.

Terrell, 34, was 7-10 with a 5.20 ERA for the Detroit Tigers in the final year of a three-year, $3.6 million contract.

“The Angels told us they’d get back to us next week,” said Alan Meersand, Terrell’s agent. “We’re not even looking for a guaranteed contract. Walt just wants the chance to make the team in spring training.”

The Angels also have expressed interest in free-agent center fielder Jerome Walton, the National League’s rookie of the year in 1989 when he was with the Chicago Cubs. “I wouldn’t dismiss him,” O’Brien said, “but it’s a little bit of a longshot.”

In other news, former Angel executive Mike Port is expected to be hired before spring training as the assistant general manager of the Red Sox. Port, who was the Angels’ general manager for six seasons before being fired after the 1990 season, interviewed this week for the job and is considered the leading candidate. Port, who has assisted Tal Smith in arbitration cases since leaving the Angels, is president of the Arizona Fall League.

Also, free-agent outfielder Hubie Brooks signed a minor-league contract Wednesday with the Kansas City Royals. Brooks batted only .216 with 36 RBIs last season, and the Angels did not seek his return.