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 Williams.

Williams, who has been ineffective for the most part this season, was a no-show for the Angels’ game against the 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 issued 18 walks in 18 outings, spanning 9 1/3 innings. He has inherited 19 runners and allowed nine to score.

Alan Hendricks, Williams’ Houston-based agent, said his client’s absence had nothing to do with his on-field troubles--or any significant off-field problems.

“The story is there is no story,” Hendricks said. “This is something the Angels knew about whey they signed him. It’s a personal matter that Mitch has to take care of.”

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

Moorad is believed to be seeking a signing bonus at least equal to 1994 top 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.”

Moorad said discussions would resume early next week, and Rosenthal said he expects a counter-offer “that will give us an idea if we’re in the same ballpark or different planets.”

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Rookie reliever Troy Percival, making his first visit to Camden Yards, was impressed with how spacious and clean the dugout was. “Geez, I felt guilty even spitting in here,” he said. . . . Chili Davis hasn’t homered since May 25 but has taken over the team lead in clutch RBIs with eight, six go-ahead and two tying.

George Arias, a third baseman for double-A Midland, had four hits, including a three-run homer, and seven RBIs Thursday in a 15-12 loss to San Antonio. Arias is batting .326 with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs in 59 games. Midland catcher Todd Greene is batting .352 with 19 homers and 40 RBIs.