Angels Are Close to Dealing Snow

Barring a change of heart, the Angels are expected to trade first baseman J.T. Snow to the New York Mets for starter Anthony Young this weekend.

Angel and Met officials confirmed The Times’ report Wednesday that the deal has been proposed, and the Mets are awaiting the Angels’ decision.

Young, 1-0 with a 2.73 earned-run average this spring while yielding nine hits in nine innings, is scheduled to pitch today against the Dodgers in Vero Beach, Fla. The Angels have sent Moose Stubing to scout the game.

“We like Anthony Young an awful lot,” Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said, “and we believe he’ll be even better with a change of scenery. I think it’s pretty obvious that we need to add a pitcher, and he has as good an arm as anyone that we’re looking at.”

Although Young was 1-16 last season, and set a major league record by losing 27 consecutive games over two seasons, he had a 3.77 ERA, including a 1.65 ERA after the All-Star break. The Mets’ average of 1.79 unearned runs during Young’s 39 games was the worst in the majors. His team averaged only 2.9 runs in his starts.

“This is a good arm that maybe needs a change of scenery to turn it around,” said Bob Harrison, assistant to Bavasi. “We think he can become a proven winner.”

Snow, who has been held out of the starting lineup the last two games, said he was surprised when he heard about the possible trade Wednesday morning.

“It was definitely a bit of a shock,” he said, “but it’s one of those things that you have no control over, so I’m trying not to dwell on it, especially until something actually happens.”

Snow, batting .161 this spring, is expected to become the Mets’ everyday first baseman.

Times staff writer John Weyler contributed to this story.