Replacements Hooked Before Start of Season : Freeway Series: Dodger, Angel subs just happy to have played.

The annual Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels did not end with a bang or a whimper. But it did end abruptly.

Saturday’s 4-3 victory by the Dodgers before 25,577 at Dodger Stadium turned out to be the last game played in the scheduled three-game set. Earlier Saturday, the major league owners decided to cancel the final spring exhibition games today.

A tentative agreement was reached Saturday night that barring a lockout by owners, major league players would start reporting to camp on Monday.

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said replacement players will work out at Dodger Stadium today before being assigned to minor league clubs. They were scheduled to leave for Florida to play the Marlins on Monday, but that series has been postponed.

Claire, who plans to return to Vero Beach on Monday, added that general managers will seek to have the rosters expanded to 27 or 28 players once the season starts, for three weeks to a month, and that Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo will stay in Vero Beach for an extended spring training.

When asked if the replacement players would be disappointed about not playing today, Claire said, “I think they would have been more disappointed if they could not have played here (Saturday night).”

The Angels will have a luncheon today for their replacement players. But although personnel decisions have been made and the team is ready to return to their spring training facility in Tempe, Ariz., General Manager Bill Bavasi wouldn’t reveal details.

“I’m waiting to hear back from the owners first,” Bavasi said. “I can’t have an opinion until they meet.”

Bavasi did say up to three-fourths of the Angels’ replacement players could find a spot in the club’s minor league system.

“There are a few we’ll talk to about working with us other than playing, and the others we’ll try to help get back into their regular work.”

For Angel Manager Marcel Lachemann, Saturday’s news added another chapter to what “has been my strangest spring ever--no question.” And Lachemann understands it may not be over.

“Nothing is definite,” Lachemann said. “All we’ve heard is rumors (about the regular players’ return).”

Even though Saturday might have been their final night in major league uniforms, the replacement Dodgers and Angels didn’t seem disheartened.

“I’m just excited to have played a game in Dodger Stadium,” said Dodger catcher Brad Dandridge. “It was an opportunity I may never have again and I wanted to take advantage of it. None of us expected the strike to last forever. If today is the last day, I can say I had a great time.”

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Dodger Notes

Despite the Dodgers’ stance, center fielder Brett Butler said that he considers himself officially a Dodger and tentatively plans to report to their spring-training camp. Butler said he has agreed to sign the one-year, $3.5-million contract that was tendered to him in January. However, Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said he notified agent Dick Moss that the contract offer no longer is valid. Claire is expected to resume negotiations today.

* Times staff writer Bob Nightengale contributed to this story.