Angels Do All Right by Signing Ontiveros

The Angels signed free-agent pitcher Steve Ontiveros Friday night, ending their search for a right-handed starter to bolster a rotation dominated by left-handers.

Ontiveros, an all-star in 1995 and the American League earned-run average leader in ’94 for the Oakland Athletics, signed a one-year deal with a base salary of about $200,000 with an option on 1997. His earnings could increase greatly if he meets a number of incentive clauses in the contract.

He earned $900,000 last season with Oakland, where he was 9-6 with a 4.37 ERA. He was 6-4 with a league-low 2.65 ERA in 1994. His career record is 33-30 with a 3.62 ERA in nine major league seasons.

“It’s a good young team mixed with some veterans,” Ontiveros said of the Angels. “It’s a good staff. It kind of reminds me of ’88 with the A’s. I’m looking forward to it “

Ontiveros, 34, has had a history of elbow trouble, however, undergoing surgery to remove a move spur after last season. He also had reconstructive elbow surgery in 1989 and has been on the disabled list seven times in his nine major league seasons.

He has been working out at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home this winter and said he recently passed a physical conducted by the San Francisco Giants.

If he’s healthy, he gives the Angels the top starting rotation in the AL West and one of the best in the league. Ontiveros joins left-handers Jim Abbott, Chuck Finley and Mark Langston.

Right-handers Phil Leftwich and Scott Sanderson and lefty Brian Anderson are expected to battle for the fifth starting spot when spring training opens in February at Tempe, Ariz.

“I’d say this is one of the best rotations we’ve taken to spring training [in club history],” said Tim Mead, Angel assistant general manager. “This allows us great competition for six weeks [at spring training], plus depth at [triple-A] Vancouver.”

Of Ontiveros, Mead said, “When the man’s healthy, he’s been very very good. The issue is his health.”

Said Ontiveros: “If I can stay healthy . . . it’s going to be fun.”

He said he is looking forward to playing with a contender after enduring several rocky seasons as the A’s descended to the bottom of the AL West standings in ’95.

“I didn’t get too much run support in Oakland,” he said. “Defense is the biggest key too. I’m not going to strike guys out like Finley and Langston. Abbott and I are ground ball pitchers.

“When we played against the Angels last year, J.T. [Snow, the club’s Gold Glove first baseman] made some plays that were just incredible.”

In other news, the Angels claimed left-hander Joe Rosselli off waivers from the Giants and placed him on their 40-man roster.

Rosselli, 23, was on the Giants’ opening day roster in 1995, recording a 2-1 record and 8.70 ERA in nine games (five starts). He was 4-3 with a 4.99 ERA in 13 games for triple-A Phoenix last season.