Multiyear Deals Shrink for Now

The multiyear contracts first baseman J.T. Snow, center fielder Jim Edmonds and relief pitcher Troy Percival were expecting to sign Monday did not materialize, the deals going into holding patterns as the Angels wait for their cloudy ownership picture to clear.

So, facing a Monday deadline for renewing contracts of unsigned players, the Angels signed Snow, Edmonds, Percival and left fielder Garret Anderson to one-year deals.

But agents for Snow, Edmonds and Percival were assured that once the Walt Disney Co. assumes operational control of the team from the Autry family--a transfer that is expected next week--the multiyear offers the players have agreed to will be restored.

Snow came to terms on a three-year, $6-million deal with a one-year option; Edmonds agreed to a four-year, $10-million deal with an option year, and Percival agreed to a four-year, $4-million deal with two option years. Anderson’s $250,000 deal included an agreement to continue working toward a long-term contract.

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Phil Leftwich’s start against Oakland was cut short when A’s third baseman Jason Giambi lined a second-inning shot off the top of Leftwich’s right foot.

Giambi was out when the ball caromed right to Snow at first base, but so was Leftwich, who was taken to a doctor’s office for X-rays that revealed no broken bones.

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Anderson, Tim Wallach and Chris Turner hit home runs as the Angels beat the A’s, 6-3, and improved to 12-1-1 in Cactus League play. . . . With all their players signed, the Angels will have a payroll of about $26 million this season. . . . Pitcher Steve Ontiveros played long-toss, then threw 40-50 pitches off the mound. The right-hander re-injured his elbow March 2. . . . Closer Lee Smith, recovering from off-season knee surgery, threw off the mound for the second consecutive day and reported no problems.