BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS

Acquiring a top-notch right-handed starter or two and re-signing left-hander Chuck Finley will be the Angels’ top priorities this off-season, with the retention of pitcher Jim Abbott and the pursuit of a catcher and third baseman also high on the team’s to-do list.

Potential free-agent pitchers expected to be high on the Angels’ list are Todd Stottlemyre (Oakland) and Jaime Navarro (Chicago Cubs).

The team has not reached a consensus on free-agent third baseman Tony Phillips, who hit .261 with 27 home runs and 119 runs but tailed off considerably in the last two months of the season.

But Phillips, 36, who received $1.9 million of his $3.5-million salary from the Angels in 1995, will probably test the free-agent market before negotiating with the Angels.

Catcher Greg Myers is eligible to become a free agent and could return if he’s willing to take a cut from his $800,000 salary.