ANGEL NOTEBOOK : Disney Unlikely to Pad Payroll

General Manager Bill Bavasi does not expect the Walt Disney Co. to significantly increase payroll when it assumes operational control of the team, and said “it would be a stretch” to think the Angels can pursue baseball’s premier free agents this winter.

“If Disney could project a huge profit, they might add to the payroll,” said Bavasi, who is attending this week’s general manager meetings. “I think they’ll be very responsible. I’m not planning on them pumping a lot more money into [the team].”

This would not seem to bode well for the Angels, who had a player payroll of about $24.5 million in 1995 and already have $15.1 million committed to the six players they have under contract for 1996--Mark Langston ($5 million), Chili Davis ($3.8 million), Tim Salmon ($2.5 million), Lee Smith ($1.9 million), Gary DiSarcina ($1.6 million) and Rex Hudler ($300,000).

Front-office officials believe it will take roughly $7 million to re-sign free-agent pitchers Chuck Finley and Jim Abbott, which would raise the payroll to about $22 million.

With Jim Edmonds, J.T. Snow, Garret Anderson and Troy Percival, who have salaries in the $200,000-or-below range, due for raises after outstanding seasons, and 13 more players to sign just to complete a 25-man roster, it will be nearly impossible to keep the payroll under $25 million.

It also will be nearly impossible to keep free-agent third baseman Tony Phillips, who made $3.5 million in ’95 and is seeking a two-year contract. Bavasi said he would also like free-agent catcher Greg Myers back “at the right price,” meaning he would have to take a cut from his $800,000 salary.

Bavasi’s biggest challenge will be finding a quality right-handed starting pitcher from the free-agent pool who fits into the budget.

Bavasi has all but ruled out acquiring pitchers such as David Cone and Jack McDowell of the Yankees and Ken Hill of the Indians.

But the pitchers the Angels are pursuing, such as Jamie Navarro (Cubs), Mark Gubicza (Royals) and Bob Tewksbury (Rangers), probably will come with a price tag of $1 million to $2 million each and would put a strain on the budget.

“We have our strategy and we’re comfortable with it,” Bavasi said. “And who knows if the market is going to bring [high-priced free agents] back to the rest of the world? But whether we get a top guy or have to wait until spring training and get a bargain-basement type guy, I’m comfortable with how we’re going about it.”

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The Angel front office is still in a state of limbo awaiting ownership approval of Disney’s purchase of a minority share of the team, which is expected to come before the end of the year.

Disney cannot officially make decisions until it takes over, and the Autry family does not appear willing to make any major financial commitments before the sale is approved.

There is some concern that if Finley or Abbott were to get attractive offers from other teams, the Angels might not be able to pull the trigger on a deal to keep them in Anaheim.

“There are some limitations because of the sale and the fact the buyer can’t be involved, and the current owner wants to hold things up, which makes sense,” Bavasi said. “But it’s no big deal. Everything will work out fine. [Signing] Chuck is a priority and it will get done.”

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The Angels’ pursuit of Yankee free agent infielder Randy Velarde is a clear message to Angel second baseman Damion Easley that the team will not put up with another subpar offensive season.

Easley hit .215 in 1994 and .216 in 1995, when he was slowed by nagging injuries, the most severe to his wrist early in the season.

“If we can upgrade at second base, we will,” Bavasi said. “You can only have so much patience with [Easley]. He has been given every opportunity but the results haven’t been there.

“We still feel he can be a heck of a player but the chance we might have to take is will he be a heck of a player for us or someone else?”