Autry: No Big Changes Are Planned : Baseball: Angel owner says team is not for sale at this time but has had preliminary talks with prospective buyers.

Angel owner Jackie Autry said Thursday she has assured the front-office staff that there will not be sweeping personnel changes if the club is sold before the 1995 season.

“Some people come in and (throw out the baby) along with the bath water, and they run into more hot water than they ever imagined,” Autry said.

“When we bring in someone, we want them to be sensitive to the staff.”

General Manager Bill Bavasi and his assistant, Tim Mead, are working without contracts but neither said he felt any anxiety over the situation.

“Your performance is your salvation,” Bavasi said. “If you do a good job, and work hard, you get opportunities. If we didn’t do that and weren’t trying to improve the organization, then we should worry.

“It shouldn’t be distracting to me, or anyone.”

Mead said, “Regardless of what happens, we’re going to have to be judged on our performance, and that’s the way it should be.”

Autry denied a report in Thursday’s editions of The Times that she and husband Gene Autry are trying to sell the club for $130 million. The report said the Autrys were selling 23% of the club for $30 million, with the option to purchase the rest of the club within six months of Gene Autry’s death.

“No one outside myself knows about this,” Autry said. “Gene doesn’t even know about it. That’s why I’ve been so sensitive and careful to keep it out of the papers.

“I have told interested parties the club is not for sale at this time, and that remains the situation.”

Autry said that she is trying to sell only a minority interest in the club and that the minority owner would immediately be in charge of day-to-day operations.

However, sources close to Autry insist that a prospective buyer would be a minority owner only until Gene Autry’s death. The buyer would be required, however, to pay $3 million each year to retain the option, which would be deducted from the $130-million purchase price.

Autry has engaged in only preliminary talks with four prospective buyers. She said that she has yet to choose a suitor and would not identify a front-runner, but the Walt Disney Co. apparently is falling out of contention.

Laker owner Jerry Buss said Thursday that he was interested in buying the Angels but has yet to negotiate with Autry.

“Nothing’s going to happen on this until the labor issue is resolved,” Autry said. “It’s just not beneficial to anyone.”

The Angels are one of four teams for sale, the others being the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates. The only sale that appears close to being consummated is that of the Padres, who are negotiating with Texas businessman John Moores.

“People in our front office are more worried about the labor situation, and possible layoffs, than new ownership,” Mead said. “Besides, right now we don’t even have enough people in our offices to field a softball team.”