BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Tanana Expected to Be Released

The Angels are expected to release 40-year-old starter Frank Tanana today along with relievers Craig Lefferts and Shawn Hillegas.

The Angels hoped that Tanana would provide insurance for them until left-hander Joe Magrane returns to the rotation, but lost faith after watching him in his first three outings. Tanana is 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA.

The Angels, who will have to pay Tanana $50,000 in termination pay, have decided to look outside the organization for a fifth starter. They will open the season with Mark Langston, Chuck Finley, Phil Leftwich and John Dopson.

They are willing to trade first baseman J.T. Snow to the New York Mets for starter Anthony Young, but if they are unhappy with Young’s next performance, they probably will keep Snow and trade Dwight Smith.

The Angels are mulling several trade offers for Smith, but have not been offered a fourth- or fifth-starter in return. They probably will wait until a decision is made on Young before considering any offers for Smith.

“The ultimate question is can we open with Dwight Smith and J.T. Snow,” Angel Manager Buck Rodgers said. “One of them might have to go. We’re more concerned about our pitching than J.T. Snow and Dwight Smith.

“And right now, our pitchers aren’t jumping out to the fourth and fifth spots.”

If the Angels trade Snow, Rodgers said he probably will employ a platoon of Bo Jackson and Smith in left field. Jim Edmonds would be used primarily as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement in the late innings. Although Jackson has been adequate defensively, Smith has struggled, misplaying several balls in the outfield.

“I still think he could handle it OK,” Rodgers said. “Luis (Polonia) was a lot worse outfielder than Dwight Smith. He can be a good outfielder because he’s got speed, but it’s up to him if he wants to work.”

Rodgers said that second baseman Kevin Flora (.200, one homer, one RBI) must show improvement or he will open the season in triple-A Vancouver.

“If opening day was tomorrow,” Rodgers said, “he’d be in the minor leagues. What’s good for the California Angels and what’s good for Kevin Flora may be conflicting. He’s had shaky offense and shaky defense, but I do see good range and good speed.

“The whole key to Kevin is momentum. If his momentum keeps going up, it would be better to take him with us. If it levels off or goes down, it’s not going to help him going to the big leagues.”

Flora had a single in his two plate-appearances Saturday before the Angels’ game against the San Francisco Giants was halted in the fourth inning because of rain.

The Angels also decided that Spike Owen, who is guaranteed $500,000 each of the next two seasons, will be kept on the team along with Rod Correia as utility infielders. They will attempt to trade Torey Lovullo and Mike Brumley.

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Angel starter Andrew Lorraine finished the last of his four final examinations Friday to complete his degree at Stanford, but instead of a feeling of exhilaration, he was informed Saturday that he was being optioned to their minor-league camp.

“Pretty ironic, huh?” Lorraine said. “I finally get done with my studies, have some free time, and this happens.”

Lorraine, the Angels’ 1993 fourth-round pick from Stanford, made a strong impression during camp. He is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation next season.

“This has been good for me,” Lorraine said. “It makes me more determined. I know I was a longshot, but the long you’re around, the harder it is to accept.”

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Eduardo Perez, who has a sore right elbow, once again played first base. Snow did not even make the trip to Scottsdale, Ariz., and is scheduled to go to Tucson today for a split-squad game while Perez stays in Tempe. . . . Starter John Farrell has decided to accept his minor league assignment with the Angels. . . . Starter Chuck Finley yielded four hits and three runs in his three-inning stint, including home runs by Matt Williams and J.R. Phillips.