BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Harkey Signed and Will Start Friday

General Manager Bill Bavasi went to the waiver wire for pitching help, signing former Cal State Fullerton right-hander Mike Harkey, who will start against Detroit on Friday night in Anaheim Stadium.

Harkey, 29, was released earlier this week after going 4-6 with a 6.27 earned-run average for the Oakland Athletics, who replaced him in the rotation with rookie Ariel Prieto.

The fourth overall pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 1987 draft and the Sporting News National League rookie pitcher of the year in 1990, Harkey’s career has been plagued by injuries and a failure to live up to expectations.

He went 12-6 with a 3.26 ERA for Chicago in 1990 but spent time on the disabled list during the 1989, ‘90, ‘91, ’92 and ’93 seasons. He missed most of the ’91 season because of an arm injury.

Harkey turned down a lucrative offer to sign with the Angels in 1994, opting to play at Colorado, where he went 1-6 with a 5.79 ERA.

Vancouver utility player Mark Dalesandro was designated for assignment to make room for Harkey on the 40-man roster, and Manager Marcel Lachemann will have to clear a spot for Harkey on the 25-man roster on Friday.

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Shortstop Gary DiSarcina had started 53 consecutive games, going the last 42 without making an error, before Lachemann gave him a much-needed night off Wednesday. “I’m no iron man,” DiSarcina said. “We’re in the middle of a long stretch of [18 consecutive] games, and I didn’t get any days off at the All-Star break.” . . . For the record: Today’s 4:30 p.m. game against Toronto will not be televised by Channel 5.