Angels Optimistic About Coming to Terms With Abbott

Angel President Richard Brown said he’s “more optimistic than not” the team will re-sign pitcher Jim Abbott, but the sides will have to close a considerable gap in negotiations if they are to strike a deal by Monday’s deadline.

Neither Brown nor Scott Boras, Abbott’s agent, would comment on the specifics of the negotiations, but sources indicated the sides are at least $1 million apart on a potential three-year deal.

The Angels are believed to be offering a package in the $8-million range, but Abbott, who has a three-year, $9.5-million offer from the Toronto Blue Jays, is seeking $9 million. As of Saturday, neither side appeared willing to budge.

If the Angels, who signed pitcher Chuck Finley to a three-year, $12-million deal Thursday, can’t come to terms with Abbott by Monday evening, they would lose negotiating rights to him until May 1, effectively ending his second stint with the team.

An Angel from 1989-92 and one of the most popular players in franchise history, Abbott turned down a four-year, $16-million offer from the Angels after the 1992 season to become a free agent. He eventually signed with the Yankees for considerably less.

“We want to sign him and he wants to stay--it would be a travesty if we can’t come together,” Brown said. “We’re apart now and we’re trying to close the gap. We feel it’s closeable.

“We sent four good players to Chicago [White Sox] for Abbott [in July] with the understanding after talking to Jim and his agent that he would want to re-sign with us. If he doesn’t, then we were misled.”

The Angels have allotted $20.4 million to the 12 players signed for 1996 and have room to sign Abbott and stay within a $25-million payroll limit, which is required for the upcoming transfer of controlling interest in the team to the Walt Disney Co.

But at the root of differences between Abbott and the Angels is perceived market value. The Angels seem to think Abbott is a $2.6-million-a-year pitcher; Abbott, who made $2.8 million in 1995, believes he’s worth at least $3 million a year.

Abbott nearly agreed to a three-year deal with the Angels for about $8 million in early December, but his price apparently went up after left-hander Al Leiter, whom Boras deems a lesser pitcher, signed a three-year deal with the Florida Marlins for $8.6 million on Dec. 14.

“We’ve exchanged values, and ours is supported by what Leiter made in the marketplace,” Boras said.

Leiter went 11-11 with a 3.64 earned-run average, 108 walks and 153 strikeouts in 183 innings for a mediocre Toronto team in 1995. Abbott was 11-8 with a 3.70 ERA, 64 walks and 86 strikeouts in 197 innings for the White Sox and Angels.

But Abbott is only 28 and already has pitched seven full seasons in the major leagues, with a 78-82 career record and 3.77 ERA; Leiter is 30 and has spent only three full seasons in the majors, going 33-32 with a 4.36 ERA.

Leiter also has been on the disabled list six times, missing most of the 1989 and ’91 seasons. Abbott, however, has been on the DL only twice, with no serious arm injuries.

“Did the Leiter signing throw us for a loop? Probably,” Brown said. “Some teams are willing to pay more than market value. What is Abbott’s value? Boras’ opinion may be different than ours.”