Leyland, Anderson Head the Angels’ Shopping List

The Angels have made a lucrative offer to Jim Leyland, the hottest commodity on baseball’s managerial market, that includes Disney Co. stock options and other incentives that had “Jimmy’s head reeling,” according to a family friend Tuesday.

While the Angels--along with the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox--are aggressively seeking Leyland, a new name has moved up near the top of the Angels’ list of candidates: Sparky Anderson.

Anderson, who was thought to be satisfied with his new career as a broadcaster, said Tuesday night he would return to the dugout if “things were right.” And there are indications the Angels would be very interested if they fail to entice Leyland with a four-year deal believed to include a base salary of about $1 million a year with incentives and stock options that make it much more attractive.

“I’ve never talked to nobody, but if things were right, I’d come back,” Anderson said. “I’ve never lost the enthusiasm to manage. The fact that I’m happy at what I’m doing now and have said so, I guess I hurt myself from anyone asking me. But I’ll never stop loving managing.”

Anderson said it would be unfair to comment about managing the Angels because he hadn’t talked with them, but said he has always admired Gene Autry, thinks the “front office and Disney people are great,” and believes the Angels are “a young team with a lot of potential.”

Anderson said he was very fortunate to work for a Cincinnati organization for nine years that was more than just a great team on the field. And he felt he had a similar situation in Detroit, where he managed from 1979 to 1995, and was the winningest manager in Tiger history.

“You have to understand my temperament,” he said. “It can’t just be a job for me. I have to feel like I’m part of the family.”

Leyland has been linked to the Marlins’ job--he has been a close friend of Florida General Manager Dave Dombrowski since they worked together in the White Sox organization in the 1980s--since announcing Sept. 17 he would leave the Pirates. But he denied published reports that he agreed weeks ago to manage Florida, which reportedly offered $1.1 million a year, only slightly more than the $1 million a year he was making in Pittsburgh.

White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, a longtime friend of Leyland’s, made his pitch in person Monday night in Pittsburgh. Chicago’s offer is believed to be for either three or five years--whichever Leyland prefers--and in excess of $1.5 million a year. Reinsdorf met with Leyland even though the White Sox have yet to fire Manager Terry Bevington.

Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette, who has suffered severe criticism in the wake of the firing of popular Manager Kevin Kennedy on Monday, will make his pitch to Leyland today.

Either the Chicago or Angel proposal would likely make Leyland the highest-paid manager in major league history.

“The offer is unbelievable,” said the friend who did not want to be identified. “He had no idea the offers would be so good. He really is confused right now.”

Leyland refused to talk about any contract specifics and both Angel President Tony Tavares and General Manager Bill Bavasi declined comment. Leyland admitted that “money is a factor,” but said he is more concerned with taking over a team committed to winning.

The Angels, White Sox and Marlins all have reportedly promised to aggressively pursue free agents, with Florida reportedly guaranteeing it would sign at least two big-ticket free agents this winter.

“The financial packages are flattering, there have been some very, very impressive offers,” Leyland said. “But I’m not going to go to one team and say, ‘This team is offering X amount of money.’ This isn’t going to a cattle auction.”

Dombrowski also talked again Tuesday with Leyland.

“It’s very difficult to speculate on what our chances or anyone else’s chances are,” Marlin President Don Smiley said. “I have no idea how we measure up.”

The Angels can’t be sure where they stand with Leyland, but a source said they feel better about their options now that Anderson is in the picture.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.