ANGELS : Davis Is Back Among, Uh, Strangers

Chili Davis walked into the Angel clubhouse and wondered whether he had taken a wrong turn. It had been only two years since he left, but it might as well have been two decades.

He saw new uniforms, a new spring-training complex, new coaches, a new manager, and virtually an entire roster of new teammates.

No matter how hard he looked, he was unable to find Dave Winfield, Jim Abbott, Brian Downing, Jack Howell, Lance Parrish, Johnny Ray or Bert Blyleven. Instead, he was looking at the faces of J.T. Snow, Tim Salmon, Chad Curtis, Damion Easley and Russ Springer.

“It was pretty strange walking in here the first day,” Davis said. “I was looking around just for someone I knew. I’m still learning guys’ names, but it will come.”

Davis, who signed in December as the club’s designated hitter, no longer is considered only a power-hitter capable of anchoring the Angel offense. Now, he must also assume the role of team leader.

“Wherever I can help, talk to guys about something or answer any questions, I’ll be there,” Davis said. “But I’m here to play. Leadership comes from example, and the Angels know I play hard and try to be aggressive.”

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Whitey Herzog, Angel vice president for player personnel, said it’s highly unlikely that the Angels will make any major trades this spring.

“We don’t have any holes right now, so I can’t see us doing anything,” he said. “I feel we’re better at five positions defensively this year (first base, second base, third base, center field, right field), and six positions offensively (those five and designated hitter).”

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The Angels signed center fielder Curtis to a one-year contract Tuesday and will unilaterally renew a club-record seven players if they don’t agree to contracts today, said Dan O’Brien, Angel vice president for baseball operations. The group includes shortstop Gary DiSarcina, right fielder Salmon, starter Julio Valera and bullpen stopper Joe Grahe.

“The time has come to start playing,” O’Brien said. “If they don’t sign, most of what I take out of their contracts will be their incentives.”

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Outfielder Ty Van Burkleo, whose wife is expecting any day, has given trainer Rick Smith a beeper that will inform him when Van Burkleo’s wife goes into labor.

“In my time, we weren’t allowed to have babies during the season,” Herzog joked. “They made you have them during the winter.”

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Angel Manager Buck Rodgers is hoping to unveil his “stink” play this weekend against the San Diego Padres. “I can’t tell you about it, but if it doesn’t work, you’ll know it, because it stinks,” he said.