Angels to Manage Without Leyland

The Angels and the Walt Disney Co. were ready to open the vault for Jim Leyland, but the highly coveted former Pittsburgh Pirate manager said thanks but no thanks Wednesday night.

“I can tell you that it’s down to three teams, and that the Angels and I have decided to go in a different direction,” Leyland said. “My wife and I are trying to make a decision, but to be honest with you, I haven’t had the time to talk to her because the phone keeps ringing.”

The Angels made a four-year contract offer to Leyland Tuesday that included a base salary of about $1 million and Disney Co. stock options that could have pushed the figure closer to $2 million a year, which would have made Leyland the highest-paid manager in baseball history. There were also other incentives, including a house.

But Leyland has opted to remain on the East Coast, closer to his Pittsburgh home, and will choose between the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox, all of whom sent high-ranking team executives to Pittsburgh this week to speak to Leyland.

With Leyland out of the picture, Angel officials will interview Tim Johnson and Ken Macha today for the manager’s job.

Johnson, a coach with the Boston Red Sox, and Macha, a minor league manager in the Boston organization, will meet with Angel officials in Southern California, a source said.

Johnson has been on the Angels’ short list since Marcel Lachemann stepped down as manager on Aug. 6. Johnson was a finalist for the manager jobs in Oakland, Detroit, St. Louis and Florida.

Macha was the Angels’ third base coach from 1992-94.

The Marlins were considered to have the inside track to Leyland when he resigned after 11 seasons with the Pirates. The Marlins reportedly offered a three- to five-year contract for $5 million to $7 million.

Red Sox President John Harrington and General Manager Dan Duquette flew to Pittsburgh Wednesday night to make their offer.

Jerry Reinsdorf, White Sox chairman, and General Manager Ron Schueler, met with Leyland on Monday.

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Times staff writer Chris Foster contributed to this story.