Langston Seeks New Deal by April : Baseball: Pitcher has told the Angels he wants a contract extension before season opens, or they risk losing him to free agency.

The Angels have been notified that they must sign All-Star pitcher Mark Langston to a contract extension by opening day or risk losing him to free agency when the season ends.

“My first and foremost priority is to stay with the Angels,” Langston said, “but I’d like to have this resolved by the time we get going (April 5). If it’s not done by then, I’ll just play it out.

“I just don’t want my contract to be a distraction to myself or my teammates.”

Said Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi: “I think that’s fair. We’d like to either get it done by then, or say, ‘We’ve done all that we can do . . .’ We’re definitely interested in doing something.”

The Angels are expected to resume negotiations next week, and requested a meeting with Langston’s agent, Arn Tellem.

“My hope is that something will happen early in spring training,” Tellem said. “I’m cautiously optimistic and hopeful that they realize what he means to the team.

“Mark is happy here and wants to stay, but if it gets to the beginning of the season and nothing’s happened, they’ll have to wait.”

Langston, in the final year of a five-year, $16-million contract, has a clause that prohibits him from being traded without his permission. He rejected trade proposals this winter from the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.