ANGELS : Chili’s Big Offer Now Off the Table

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

The Angels, apparently unwilling to make a long-term financial commitment to Davis, have still 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 clubhouse, said Friday he didn’t want to discuss his contract situation until he had a chance to talk to General Manager Bill Bavasi, who is supposed to arrive in camp today.

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

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

Davis, who was paid $2.4 million last year, and the Angels have exchanged arbitration figures for a one-year deal--Davis asked for $5.1 million, the team offered $4.3 million--and any hearing would probably occur 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 next winter.

Davis 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.”

*

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

His agent, Brian David, said the 37-year-old pitcher was flying from his home in Louisiana to Phoenix on Friday, the mandatory reporting date for players and that he would be in uniform today. But he still hadn’t checked into his hotel by 9 p.m.

“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.”

*

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 to his ultimate goal. But he’s also looking forward to picking up some pointers from the veteran reliever.

“It doesn’t make me real happy, but I’m just going to try to do my job,” said Percival, who struck out 73 in 61 innings at triple-A Vancouver last season. “I’m the kind of guy who takes the mound with a lot of emotion--I just have to do it in the seventh and eighth innings instead of the ninth.

“Heck, I’d be happy to learn from a guy like Lee Smith. He’s big, he’s intimidating. . . . I’ll watch him all day.”

*

Pedro Guerrero, signed to a minor league contract during the off-season, was sent to Class-AA Midland, rather than the triple-A Vancouver club for which he and the Angels initially expected he’d play.

And instead of being a fixture in the middle of the lineup, Guerrero will serve as a player-coach who will split time at first base, third base and designated hitter.

Guerrero, 38, was beaten out for the first-base job at Vancouver by another veteran on the comeback trail, Leon (Bull) Durham.

*

Under the revised schedule, the Angels’ game at Seattle on Sept. 27, previously thought to have been canceled, will be played, and Sept. 25 will now be an off day.

* The Associated Press contributed to this report.