BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Sanderson’s Long Career Probably Over

A professional baseball career that began 20 years ago in West Palm Beach, Fla., and included 163 major league victories for seven teams in 17 seasons, probably ended Thursday in New York City when the Angels released right-hander Scott Sanderson.

The Angels also placed reliever Mark Eichhorn on the 15-day disabled list because of rotator cuff tendinitis, and recalled two pitchers from triple-A Vancouver, right-handed starter Shad Williams, who will make his major league debut Saturday in Yankee Stadium, and right-handed reliever Jeff Schmidt.

Sanderson, who turns 40 in July, was trying to make his second comeback after lower-back surgery--he had a herniated disc repaired last August--but he was ineffective in five games, going 0-2 with a 7.50 earned-run average.

“He had a great career and has nothing to be ashamed of,” Manager Marcel Lachemann said.

“There just comes a time where it doesn’t happen for you.

“This wasn’t an ideal situation for him because he needs to pitch every fifth day, and it has been tough to get him a start. He needs to get into the flow of things, and he works the corners of the plate, but with the strike zone being what it is today, that was tough for him.”

Sanderson, who has a career 163-143 record and 3.84 ERA, is free to sign with another team, but Manager Marcel Lachemann said the pitcher “was going to take some time to think about what he wants to do,” before deciding whether to retire or attempt to prolong his career.

Williams, a 17th-round pick in 1991 who was 4-0 with a 3.30 ERA in seven starts at Vancouver, will be the fifth No. 5 Angel starter this season, following Sanderson, Jason Grimsley, Phil Leftwich and Dennis Springer.

Springer was originally scheduled to pitch Saturday in New York but was replaced by the 25-year-old Williams, who struck out 30 and walked 12 in 43 2/3 innings at Vancouver.

Schmidt, a 1992 first-round pick who spent the 1995 season at double-A Midland, had nine saves and a 3.00 earned run average in 12 relief appearances for Vancouver.

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The Angels have expressed interest in trading for San Diego pitchers Scott Sanders or Tim Worrell, Toronto’s Pat Hentgen or Erik Hanson, and Houston’s Darryl Kile, but the asking prices appear too high in some situations, and the Astros do not appear willing to part with Kile.

Most teams involved in trade talks with the Angels would like triple-A outfielder Darin Erstad, the No. 1 pick in the 1995 draft, but it’s doubtful the Angels would give him up.

The Angels continue to shop reliever Lee Smith, who has looked better with every appearance, but they’ll likely have to package him with a front-line, major league starter or a top prospect if they hope to acquire a quality starting pitcher.