ANGELS : Davis’ $11.25-Million Deal Rescinded

The three-year, $11.25-million deal Angel designated hitter Chili Davis thought he had agreed to over the winter is no longer on the table, according to sources.

The Angels, apparently unwilling to make a long-term financial commitment to Davis, have offered him arbitration rights, meaning the 35-year-old switch hitter will play in Anaheim this year.

But it could be his last season in an Angel uniform.

Davis, one of the most popular players in the Angel clubhouse, said Friday he didn’t want to discuss his contract situation until he had a chance to talk to Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi, who is scheduled to arrive in camp today.

Bavasi, who has been in Orange County tending to administrative matters all week, would not comment on the situation. Assistant GM Tim Mead, when asked if the three-year offer had been pulled, said, “For the time being.”

Davis, an Angel outfielder from 1988-90, has been the team’s top hitter since returning from the Minnesota Twins in December, 1992. He hit .243 with 27 home runs and 112 runs batted in in 1993 and .311 with 26 homers and 84 RBIs in ’94. He was the Angels’ lone All-Star selection last season.

Davis, who made $2.4 million in ‘94, and the Angels exchanged arbitration figures over the winter for a one-year deal--Davis asked for $5.1 million, the team offered $4.3 million--and a hearing would likely take place in May.

The Angels, who claim to have lost $10 million during the strike-shortened ’94 season, would pay a high price for Davis under arbitration this year, but they would then have the option of letting Davis and his huge contract go after the season.

Davis, discussing his status Thursday, said he would prefer a three-year deal, “but if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t. I have three or four more years to play, and I’m going to enjoy them.”

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The Angels still haven’t had their first look at bullpen stopper Lee Smith, who signed a two-year, $4-million deal over the winter. Smith was not at practice Friday.

Smith’s agent, Brian David, said the pitcher, 37, was flying from his home in Louisiana to Phoenix Friday, the mandatory reporting date for players, and that he would be in uniform today. But he hadn’t checked into his hotel as of 9 p.m. Friday.

“Because Friday was the reporting date I think he thought that meant the first workout was Saturday,” David said. “I think everything’s clear now.”

The Angels have been working out since Wednesday, but Mead said Smith would not be fined for missing practice because he still hasn’t missed today’s mandatory workout date.

Manager Marcel Lachemann didn’t think Smith’s absence would be a major setback.

“It’s not a monster thing, him being a reliever instead of a starter,” Lachemann said. “But this being a short spring, you’d like to see everyone here as long as you can. He may have a very good reason for not being here, so I won’t make a big case out of it.”

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Pedro Guerrero will begin his comeback attempt one step lower than he expected.

Signed to a minor-league contract during the off-season, Guerrero was sent to double-A Midland, rather than the triple-A Vancouver, where the Angels initially expected he’d play. Guerrero, 38, will be a player-coach who will split time at first base, third base and designated hitter.

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Troy Percival has mixed feelings about Smith’s arrival. The 25-year-old right-hander with the blazing fastball is being groomed as the Angels’ next closer, but one reason the team acquired Smith is so it could ease Percival into the role.

Percival, of course, thinks he’s ready for the job, so Smith’s presence is a major roadblock. But he’s also looking forward to picking up some pointers from the veteran reliever.

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Angel Notes

Under the revised schedule, the Angels’ game Sept. 27 at Seattle, previously thought to be canceled, will be played and the Sept. 25 game at Seattle will be an off day. . . . It appears that reliever Troy Percival, who played at Moreno Valley High and UC Riverside, will finally be able to buy that house in Mesa he has had his eye on for the past year. He had been trying to secure a loan for months but could not get approval until he got a contract. “My realtor saw on TV that the strike was over and called me, saying the house was still available,” Percival said. “It will be nice to get in there and stop mooching off my parents in Moreno Valley for a change.”

* The Associated Press contributed to this story.