Free Agents Polonia, Javier, Gonzales Don’t Fit in Angels’ Budget or Plans

The Angels, hampered by their self-imposed salary cap, said goodby Tuesday to outfielders Luis Polonia and Stan Javier, and infielder Rene Gonzales, refusing to offer arbitration to the three free agents.

“I don’t know whether I’m right or wrong, but I know the trend of baseball, and we simply couldn’t afford to pay them,” General Manager Whitey Herzog said. “I know they feel they’re getting cheated, but I don’t see anyone jumping on their bandwagon.”

Javier, however, signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics for two years at $1.2 million.

Polonia, the Angels’ leadoff hitter the last four years, was seeking a three-year, $9-million contract. The Angels offered salary cuts to Javier and Gonzales, who each earned $600,000 in 1993, but they were rejected.