BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Chili Davis Only Camp Absentee

Designated hitter Chili Davis was the only no-show for the Angels’ first full-squad workout Tuesday, which is not exactly earth-shattering news. “I think he has missed the first day of camp for the last five years,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said.

General Manager Bill Bavasi said Davis, who lives in nearby Scottsdale, was tending to personal business and would arrive Friday or Saturday, well before Tuesday’s mandatory reporting date.

“He’s our Pedro Guerrero,” Bavasi said, alluding to the former Dodger infielder who was notorious for arriving late to spring training. “I think he had visa problems coming in from Scottsdale.”

Lachemann says he doesn’t believe the late arrival will have any negative effects on Davis, a 36-year-old who hit .318 with 20 home runs and 86 runs batted in last season and is entering the second year of a three-year, $11.4-million contract.

“His job, compared to what he did in the past, requires a lot less preparation,” Lachemann said. “He’s not playing the outfield or catching. All he does is DH.”

*

The Angels made their initial contract offer to first baseman J.T. Snow Tuesday, proposing a three-year deal, believed to be in the $5-million range, with an option for a fourth year.

Representatives of Snow, who hit .289 with 24 homers and 102 RBIs and won a Gold Glove in 1995, are hoping to secure a contract similar to that recently signed by Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones (four years, $8.2 million).

The Angels also have begun negotiations with left-fielder Garret Anderson on a possible five-year deal with an option for a sixth year.

Reliever Mike James, who was 3-0 with a 3.88 earned-run average in 46 games last season, is close to signing a one-year deal for $150,000. All but seven Angel players in camp have been signed for 1996.

*

No one is sure how the Angels will hit in ‘96, but they should be great against the run. Snow and center fielder Jim Edmonds look more like inside linebackers, thanks to winter weight programs that added upper-body bulk.

Snow gained only a few pounds, but his shoulders and chest are much more defined. Edmonds has added 16 pounds since the end of last season. “I’ve got to last six months,” Edmonds said. “I started burning out toward the end of last season.”

Edmonds showed off his muscle Tuesday, knocking about a dozen batting-practice balls over Tempe Diablo Stadium’s right-field fence, some into the players’ parking lot. “You’re not going to see any Mercedes parked out there anymore,” shortstop Gary DiSarcina said.

*

The Angels have 61 players in camp, but because of a slew of injuries and a rigorous early Cactus League schedule (15 games in the first 10 days), they will add seven more today--infielders Brian Grebeck, James Burke, Keith Luuloa, Ty Van Burkleo, P.J. Forbes and Chris Pritchett and outfielder Emmitt Cohick--bringing their total to 68. . . . Infielder Damion Easley, who will battle Randy Velarde for the second base job, is suffering from a strained rotator cuff and will not be able to throw for several days. . . . Veteran shortstop Dick Schofield, a longshot to make the team, has a kidney stone and will be unavailable for several days. . . . Pitcher Steve Ontiveros, who has a strained hamstring, was held out of Tuesday’s workout, but Chuck Finley, who missed two days because of back spasms, was able to throw lightly.