BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Williams Attends to Personal Business

Jersey No. 99 hung in the visiting clubhouse in Camden Yards. The red glove was on the top shelf. Everything in Mitch Williams’ locker appeared to be in order Friday night. Except there was no Mitch Williams.

Williams, who has been ineffective for most of the season, was a no-show for the Angels’ game against the Baltimore Orioles, but Manager Marcel Lachemann said he was not AWOL.

“He had to take care of some personal business in Philadelphia,” Lachemann said. “He cleared it with Bill [Bavasi, Angel general manager] in spring training. He’ll be back [tonight].”

Williams is 1-2 with a 7.45 earned-run average and has given up 18 walks in 18 appearances spanning 9 2/3 innings. He has inherited 19 runners and allowed nine to score.

The left-hander has stretched the patience of an organization that has given him every chance to succeed, but Alan Hendricks, his Houston-based agent, said his absence had nothing to do with his on-field troubles--or any significant off-field problems.

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Jeff Moorad, agent for No. 1 draft pick Darin Erstad, and Mark Rosenthal, the Angels’ legal counsel, discussed parameters of a deal to sign the Nebraska outfielder.

Moorad is believed to be seeking a signing bonus at least equal to 1994 No. 1 pick Paul Wilson ($1.55 million), and Rosenthal said the Angels made their initial offer Friday. But Moorad said he and the Angels “are still exploring the issues, trying to narrow the concepts a bit.”

Probable translation: The sides are still far apart.