Yankees Fail to Offer Abbott a Contract : Baseball: Former Angel pitcher becomes a free agent, but a move back to Anaheim is in doubt because of the team’s tight budget.

Pitcher Jim Abbott, a former Angel who never lived up to expectations in New York despite throwing a no-hitter in 1993, became a free agent Friday when the Yankees didn’t offer him a contract for 1995.

Speculation is that he’ll find his way back to California. But the Angels, already operating on a self-imposed tight budget, would probably have to do some creative financing in order to sign him.

Barring a trade of several high-salaried players, it would seem impossible to pay Abbott what he would want.

The Yankees declined to give Abbott a qualifying offer of at least $3,052,500, 10% more than his 1994 salary, the amount required to keep him a restricted free agent under the rules owners imposed Friday.

Yankee General Manager Gene Michael also failed to offer a contract to infielder Randy Velarde, making him a free agent, and made a qualifying offer of $5.83 million to 1993 American League Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell, obtained Dec. 14 from the Chicago White Sox.

“We just thought the money that we would have to spend for them was over their market value, and we couldn’t attend to that,” Michael said. “We just didn’t think the value was there for that kind of money. Both of them are free to negotiate now with anyone, and that includes us.”

The Angels traded Abbott to the Yankees on Dec. 6, 1992, for J.T. Snow, Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen. The previous two years he had earned-run averages of 2.77 and 2.89, and he went 18-11 in 1991.

However, he was 11-14 with a 4.37 ERA for New York in 1993, and pitched a no-hitter Sept. 4, one of his few moments of Yankee glory. He was 9-8 with a 4.55 ERA in the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Abbott would have been a free agent, anyway, if the union hadn’t struck Aug. 12. His filing was rejected in October when owners claimed he lacked the necessary six years of service time, and the players’ association filed a grievance on his behalf.

In other news, the Angels declined to offer contracts to pitchers Mark Leiter and Bob Patterson, making them free agents. They tendered contracts for 1995 to 28 players, including designated hitter Chili Davis.

Leiter appeared in 40 games, including seven starts, with a 4-7 record and 4.72 ERA. Patterson made 47 appearances, with a 2-3 record and 4.07 ERA.

The Angels also said they have agreed to terms with left-hander Ken Patterson on a minor-league contract. Patterson, 30, pitched two-thirds of an inning last season before tearing a ligament in his left elbow, which required surgery.

Several players agreed to contracts minutes before owners imposed the salary cap. Teams announced the deals on Friday.

Infielder Bip Roberts, who was a free agent, got the biggest deal, a $4.8-million, two-year contract with San Diego. Harold Baines, another free agent, returned to Baltimore for $1.6 million in 1995.

Outfielder Orlando Merced agreed to a $2-million, one-year deal with Pittsburgh. St. Louis signed two players to one-year deals, infielder Geronimo Pena for $770,000 and outfielder Brian Jordan for $725,000.

Catcher Scott Servais and Houston agreed to a one-year contract. Infielder Jeff Reboulet and Minnesota agreed to a two-year deal, and catcher Steve Decker and Florida agreed to a one-year contract.

Boston let go pitchers Tony Fossas and Chris Nabholz, and Detroit got rid of four players, pitchers Mike Gardiner and Gene Harris, outfielder Junior Felix and catcher Chad Kreuter. Atlanta released pitchers Derek Lilliquist, Gregg Olson and Mike Stanton.