ANGELS : Despite Bargain Prices, Team Will Only Browse

The power hitter, the right-handed starter. . . . everything the Angels need to become contenders in the American League West--where you don’t need much to contend--is available on the free-agent market, much of it at bargain prices.

There are pitchers such as San Francisco’s Bill Swift, Toronto’s Todd Stottlemyre and Dave Stewart, and Oakland’s Steve Ontiveros; versatile position players such as Montreal’s Larry Walker and Detroit’s Mickey Tettleton, who would provide some needed punch.

But it seems all the Angels can do is browse.

“If your wife asks you to buy a Corvette because they’re 20% below what they normally cost but you have no money, what are you going to do?” said Angel President Richard Brown, who said the team lost $10 million during the strike-shortened 1994 season. “You’re not going to buy it.

“We feel we have the nucleus of a contending club. Yes, we’re missing two ingredients. We’ll get them, but we’ll do it our way, as economically feasible as we can.”

The Angels begin spring training for an abbreviated season today with almost the same team that went 47-68, the American League’s worst record, in 1994.

They’ve added bullpen stopper Lee Smith, who should have a significant impact, but with a glut of affordable free agents this would seem an opportune time to try to further upgrade the team, perhaps incurring extra cost now but increasing potential for the financial benefits that come with a contending club.

Brown, whose payroll is virtually at the $25.9 million budget, said it’s possible the Angels could pursue a free agent or two, “but we can’t add without subtracting first, through trades.”

It’s doubtful oft-injured pitcher Joe Magrane and his $1.5 million contract would draw much interest, but center fielder Chad Curtis ($1.9 million) and left-handed hitting catcher Greg Myers ($800,000) have been the subject of past trade discussions.

“It will be a question of which team has the discretionary dollars to spend,” Brown said. “We want a competitive club, but I’m not going to go to ownership and say we need X amount when we’re already in the hole. We’re not going to lose money.”

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The Angels will play a 12-game spring-training schedule with the final four games against the Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium on April 22 and 23 and Anaheim Stadium April 24 and 25.

After intrasquad games next Tuesday and Wednesday, they’ll open Cactus League II against Milwaukee in Tempe Diablo Stadium April 13.

Tickets for the Angels’ four games in Tempe Diablo this spring will be reduced by $2, and tickets for the Padre-Angel series will be half-price.

The Angels are tentatively scheduled to open the regular season at home against the Detroit Tigers April 26. All seats will be $1, and season ticket holders will get in free. The Angels will charge regular ticket prices for their remaining 71 home games.

Those who have purchased tickets for April games that have been canceled will receive refunds.

Angel Notes

Adam Katz, one of the agents representing designated hitter Chili Davis, said he has not yet had “substantial discussions” with the Angels regarding Davis, who is eligible for arbitration but had previously reached a tentative understanding with the team on a three-year, $11.25 million deal. . . . Shortstop Gary DiSarcina, of many Angels to arrive Monday, said he’s ready to give up being the team’s assistant player representative after a long winter of conference calls and union meetings. “It’s just too much--I don’t know how (player representative Mark) Langston did it,” he said. “It’s time to pass the baton.” . . . Luis Raven, a 26-year-old outfielder from Venezuela, won’t be able to report to Tempe for a week to 10 days, until he secures a work visa. Manager Marcel Lachemann said that virtually assures Raven will start the season at triple-A Vancouver. . . . The Angels will work out at their minor league complex at Mesa Thursday through Monday because of a previously scheduled Indian Festival on the grounds of their Tempe training site.