Angels Searching for Pitching

Free-agent catcher Joe Oliver said the Angels have been his “most serious suitor,” but General Manager Bill Bavasi said Tuesday the team will target a right-handed pitcher before a catcher.

Tim Belcher, who went 10-12 with a 4.52 earned-run average for the Seattle Mariners last season, is on top of the Angels’ list. Steve Ontiveros also has emerged as a possible candidate.

Ontiveros was an American League All-Star in 1995, when he went 9-6 with a 4.37 ERA for the Oakland Athletics, but he had arm problems in the second half. He had bone chips removed from his elbow after the season.

Bavasi, speaking at the owners meetings, said he has had discussions with the agents for both pitchers but no deals were imminent. Agent Scott Boras said Belcher “is very interested in coming to Anaheim if the money is right.”

The Angels already have committed $22.6 million in salary to the 13 players signed for 1996, and Bavasi said he doesn’t expect the payroll to rise dramatically above $25 million when the Walt Disney Co. assumes operational control of the team. Owners are expected to vote on Disney’s proposal to purchase 25% of the Angels on Thursday.

Boras, who also represents Oliver, said Belcher and Oliver “are there for a reasonable price, but I don’t know if ownership will be able to do it.” Both players would be willing to accept contracts with low-to-medium base salaries as long as they include incentive clauses.

Either Belcher or Ontiveros, and Oliver, could fill the Angels’ most pressing needs: A right-handed starter to offset a rotation dominated by left-handers--Chuck Finley, Mark Langston and Jim Abbott--and a veteran catcher who could provide some power and allow the Angels to give prospect Todd Greene another year of seasoning in the minor leagues.

“From all indications they want to sign me, and it’s a matter of finding the right financial situation,” said Oliver, who hit .273 with 12 home runs and 51 runs batted in for the Milwaukee Brewers last season despite missing five weeks because of a broken wrist.

“For me, the Angels would be the best situation. They have a good ballclub with a solid, veteran pitching staff that should contend for a playoff berth.”

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Manager Marcel Lachemann said reliever Bryan Harvey, who appeared in only one game for the Florida Marlins last season before undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery, has begun throwing during informal Anaheim Stadium workouts and “is farther along than the rest of our pitchers.”

Harvey, 32, signed a one-year, $500,000 contract with the Angels in December and could receive as much as $1.75 million with bonuses. The base salary is guaranteed, pending a physical on Thursday.

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Angel pitchers and catchers will hold their first spring training workouts in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 16, with the first full-squad workouts scheduled for Feb. 20.

The Angels will play Cal State Fullerton in a Feb. 29 exhibition at Tempe Diablo Stadium, and they’re scheduled to open Cactus League play March 1.

* ANGELS’ WISH LIST: Right-handers Tim Belcher and Steve Ontiveros head list of pitching candidates.