Angels Move Closer to Deal With Russell : Baseball: Free-agent relief pitcher would fill spot once occupied by Bryan Harvey.

The Angels intensified negotiations Tuesday in their quest to acquire free-agent bullpen stopper Jeff Russell, and they are hopeful of signing him to a one-year contract before the weekend.

“There’s a good chance we might get something done,” said Alan Hendricks, Russell’s agent. “The Angels present a real and viable alternative, and hopefully things will come to a head in the next 24 to 48 hours.

“They were late entrants in this, but they also got in late on (free-agent outfielder) Jerome Walton, and they got him.”

Russell, 31, has saved at least 30 games in three of the last four seasons, including a league-leading 38 in 1989 for the Texas Rangers. But teams have shied away from him this winter because of recent elbow problems.

Although Russell contends he’s fully recovered, he was diagnosed with a bone spur in his right elbow in September after being traded to the Oakland Athletics. He pitched only once in the final two weeks of the regular season but returned for the American League playoffs.

The Angels are discussing a one-year contract, according to a source close to the negotiations, that would pay Russell a base salary of less than $1 million with a number of incentives.

“I don’t have an optimistic outlook or a pessimistic outlook on whether we’ll get this done,” said Dan O’Brien, Angel vice president for baseball operations. “I don’t show my optimism until it’s done.”

If Russell signs with the Angels, he’ll immediately inherit the stopper’s role that was Bryan Harvey’s before Harvey was injured and subsequently taken by the Florida Marlins in the expansion draft. It would allow the Angels to move Joe Grahe into a setup role or return him to the starting rotation.

The Angels also are continuing their pursuit of free-agent starter Scott Sanderson for the fifth spot in their rotation. They have offered Sanderson, 36, a one-year contract, but he rejected it and made a counteroffer.

Sanderson was 12-11 with a 4.93 earned-run average last season for the New York Yankees. He has averaged 14 victories the last four years, pitching for the Chicago Cubs, Athletics and Yankees.