Getting Appier Would Be Expensive

The Angels are interested in trading for pitcher Kevin Appier, but the price for the Kansas City Royal ace would be steep, and not just because of his $5-million salary.

Herk Robinson, Royal general manager, said he’s not shopping Appier, who will be a free agent after this season, and that he hopes to re-sign him for 1997.

“But if we can’t re-sign him, we’d make every effort to trade him,” Robinson said. “And if you’re going to get Appier, you’re going to have to give something up.”

What would the Angels, in dire need of starting pitching, be willing to part with? At least four players--center fielder Jim Edmonds, right fielder Tim Salmon, shortstop Gary DiSarcina and reliever Troy Percival--are believed to be untouchable.

“But everything’s always for sale,” said Angel GM Bill Bavasi, who is also pursuing San Diego’s Scott Sanders, Toronto’s Pat Hentgen and Houston’s Darryl Kile. “I like my house. I have no intention of moving. But if the right deal comes along, we’d make it.”

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The Angels Friday acquired reliever Brad Pennington off waivers from the Boston Red Sox and will activate the hard-throwing but erratic left-hander this weekend. Dennis Springer was sent to triple-A Vancouver.

Pennington, 27, was 0-2 with a 2.77 earned-run average, 15 walks and 13 strikeouts in 13 innings for Boston.

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Angel pitcher Shad Williams, who will make his big-league debut against the Yankees today, already has made his big-screen debut. Williams, recalled from Vancouver Friday, appeared in Disney’s “Angels in the Outfield,” as an Oakland pitcher “who gives up an inside-the-infield home run to lose the game,” Williams said. . . Pitcher Scott Sanderson, released by the Angels Thursday, said he will not actively pursue a position with another team but wouldn’t rule out another comeback if someone called. “Quite clearly, my career has had a chance to end a few times,” said Sanderson, 39. . . . The Angels inquired about Japanese pitcher Katsuhiro Maeda, who was acquired by the Yankees this week, but were never close to signing him. “Not at that [$1.5-million] bonus,” assistant General Manager Tim Mead said.