ANGELS : Langston May Go, but for Now It’s Status Quo

Although the Angels are conceding that they might lose starter Mark Langston to free agency in two years, Vice President White Herzog said Thursday that the club has no interest in trading him, nor in offering a contract extension.

“We’ve made the decision that we will not even consider trading Langston,” Herzog said. “We’ve told clubs that he is not on the market. He may want to pitch somewhere else, but he’s staying with us.”

It’s quite a contrast to the approach the Angels took with starter Jim Abbott, who also was due to be eligible for free agency after the 1994 season. He was traded last December to the New York Yankees.

Do the Angels have the same concern they had with Abbott--receiving nothing in return if Langston departs through free agency?

“Sure, we know he may be leaving,” Herzog said. “But hell, he already stated to us once that he doesn’t want to be here, so it’s useless to even talk about an extension.

“The only thing we can do is hope to show him this organization is on the right track, and hope at the end of two years he wants to be part of it.”

Herzog said there have been no trade discussions involving Langston. He scoffed at a published report in Toronto that the Blue Jays offered catcher Pat Borders, pitcher David Wells and a minor leaguer for Langston.

“He signed a full no-trade contract with every intention to remain here during his entire five-year contract,” Herzog said. “Well, he’s not going to have his cake and candy, too. Unless his agent calls me and says, ‘We’ll relinquish his full no-trade clause,’ we won’t even discuss it.”

Although Langston, the Angels’ opening-day starter and team earned-run average leader with an 0.56 mark, wants to play for a winner, he said: “I’m just focusing on this season. I’m not going to worry about anything, or have any distractions take away from my objective.”

The bullpen struggled again in the Angels’ 7-1 exhibition loss Thursday to the Oakland Athletics. Steve Frey yielded two hits, four walks and five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings, and Joe Grahe gave up two hits and one earned run, including a two-run triple to pinch-hitter Ron Witmeyer.

Angel Notes

John Farrell, who has not pitched in the last two seasons because of two elbow operations, continues his strong bid to become the Angels’ fifth starter. He gave up one hit, three walks and one earned run in his five-inning stint. Said Manager Buck Rodgers: “I think he helped himself quite a bit today.” . . . Julio Valera, who has missed one start because of a tender elbow, will be examined Saturday by Dr. Lewis Yocum. . . . J.T. Snow was hitless in two at-bats and has only four hits in his last 29 at-bats, lowering his average to .186.