Owen Tells Angels He Wants to Be Traded : Baseball: Third baseman, who hit career-high .310 last season, said he will stay only if he starts.

Angel starting third baseman Spike Owen, who batted a career-high .310 last season, has asked to be traded.

Owen told the Angels he’s interested in staying only if he remains in the starting lineup, but Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said that won’t happen. Instead, Eduardo Perez will be given the starting third-base job, Bavasi said.

“I told them that I don’t want to come back and be a backup player,” Owen said, “because I’m better than that. I deserve a chance to play. And I proved that this year.

“That’s why I’ve asked them to move me.”

Bavasi began informing teams at the Major League general manager meetings Monday that Owen was available for trades, and said he’ll make every attempt to honor Owen’s request.

“He wants to play,” Bavasi said, “and I understand that. But we’re committed to Eduardo Perez. He’s going to camp as our third baseman.

“So we’ll do everything we can to accommodate Owen, but we’re not going to give him away.”

Owen, who was traded a year ago from the New York Yankees, emerged last season as one of the Angels’ most pleasant surprises. Although he never had played anything other than shortstop in his career, Owen became the starting third baseman May 26. He responded by batting .323 the rest of the season, and led the American League with a .454 batting average with runners in scoring position.

The Texas Rangers, who previously attempted to acquire Owen before he signed a three-year, $7-million contract with the Yankees, might be interested in acquiring Owen as their everyday shortstop. Although Owen is scheduled to earn $3.25 million in 1995, the Yankees are responsible for $2.75 million of the contract.

“That’s going to be a blessing,” Owen said, “because someone won’t have to pay my full salary. I can thank the Angels for showing people I can play again, and the Yankees for picking up the salary. Hopefully, that will open some people’s eyes.”

Owen’s preference is to become a shortstop again, and with his home in Austin, Tex., the Rangers or Houston Astros would be a perfect fit.

“I know the Angels are not obligated to do anything,” Owen said, “but hopefully they’ll have enough respect for me to place me where I have a chance to play.

“I really enjoyed playing for the Angels, but I’m just not going back there as an insurance policy. They understand that. But I also deserve a chance to play.”

Angel Notes

The San Diego Padres informed the Angels on Monday that they might have an interest in trading for center fielder Chad Curtis, and would be willing to deal pitching in return. . . . Dodger General Manager Fred Claire has been advised by scouts in the Arizona Fall League that minor league third baseman Ron Coomer is not ready to be an everyday player because of his defensive lapses. Yet, Claire said he has not given up on the possibility of Coomer becoming their opening-day third baseman. If Coomer is not ready, the Dodgers will attempt to re-sign Tim Wallach, who also is being courted by the Padres. . . . John Franco, considered the most attractive free-agent closer on the market, has yet to draw interest from the Angels or Dodgers. He is being sought by the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and New York Mets. . . . Cub General Manager Ed Lynch said he will soon telephone former Cub second baseman Ryne Sandberg but refused to say whether he will try to persuade him to end his retirement. . . . The Philadelphia Phillies are negotiating to sign free-agent third baseman Terry Pendleton. . . . The Colorado Rockies, desperate for pitching, are attempting to sign free-agent starters Danny Jackson and Billy Swift. . . . General managers were told for the second consecutive year that they will not be participating in the baseball winter meetings.