Report Indicates Trade in Works for Henderson

The Angels are so concerned about Eddie Murray’s sluggish bat that they’ve had serious discussions with the San Diego Padres about trading for Rickey Henderson and using the speedy outfielder and leadoff batter as a designated hitter.

A source told the Associated Press Wednesday night that a deal has been worked out to send Angel reliever Chuck McElroy to the Padres for Henderson, but the trade is contingent on Henderson restructuring his contract. Another source told The Times that “at this point, nothing is imminent.”

Henderson, 38, has a 1997 base salary of $2 million and can make an additional $1.5 million in plate appearance incentives, but the Angels probably can’t afford to pay baseball’s all-time stolen base leader $3.5 million.

Such a trade would also force the Angels to make the extremely difficult--and expensive--decision to release Murray, a 20-year veteran who is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame and is one of three players with 500 career home runs and 3,000 hits.

Murray, who has a guaranteed $750,000 contract, had one hit in his first 20 spring-training at-bats, but his performance Wednesday may cause the Angels to reconsider dealing for Henderson--Murray had an RBI single in the first inning and a three-run homer in the eighth in a 10-7 exhibition victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Henderson is the odd man out in the San Diego outfield of Tony Gwynn, Steve Finley and Greg Vaughn, and the Padres have been trying to trade him all spring.

Though Henderson has been a clubhouse distraction with some teams, Angel Manager Terry Collins, who wants to have a more aggressive, run-oriented offense, would covet a player with such speed.

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First baseman Darin Erstad, showing he has completely recovered from a bruised left hand, hit two homers Wednesday, clearing the right-field wall in the first inning and the left-field wall in the second. After a one-for-12 start, Erstad has 12 hits, including four homers, in his last 19 at-bats.

Chuck Finley, making his second spring start after an early spring bout with shoulder tendinitis, threw three solid innings, giving up one run on three hits and retiring the always-dangerous Ken Griffey twice. “The shoulder feels great,” Finley said. “I’m a couple days behind everyone else, but I’m catching up.”

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The Angels won’t know how long Randy Velarde will be sidelined until they see how the second baseman’s injured arm reacts to a week of therapy. But even if Velarde is unable to start the season, General Manager Bill Bavasi said the chances of signing or trading for another second baseman are remote. Brent Gates, slotted as the Oakland’s starting second baseman going into camp, was released this week, but Bavasi said the Angels are not interested. “We have [Luis] Alicea,” Bavasi said. “I think we’ll be fine.” . . . Closer Troy Percival is experiencing some upper back discomfort and was examined by Dr. Fred Dickey Wednesday, but tests to determine the extent of any injury were unavailable. . . . Mark Langston is scheduled to pitch tonight against the San Diego Padres in Peoria.