Ex-Angels Alicea and Howell Find Better Opportunities Elsewhere

Unwilling to pay a high price for depth, the Angels lost second baseman Luis Alicea and utility player Jack Howell to other teams Tuesday, leaving them with two more holes to fill.

Alicea signed a two-year, $1.5-million deal with the Texas Rangers. Howell signed a two-year, $1.05 million contract with the Houston Astros.

Both players became available without requiring compensation when the Angels declined Sunday to offer salary arbitration.

“When push came to shove, apparently they had large, multiyear, guaranteed deals that we couldn’t do,” Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “Both played prominent roles on the club, but we can’t forget that they were roles.”

Alicea, who made $350,000, played 128 games last season after Randy Velarde injured his elbow in spring training. Alicea hit .253 and was looking for a starting role, which the Angels could not guarantee.

“I can’t blame him,” Bavasi said.

The Angels expect Velarde to be ready by spring training. But the team did not offer Tony Phillips a contract. Craig Grebeck, the Angels’ reserve middle infielder last season, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent.

The Angels were offering Howell a one-year deal worth about $450,000. He made $400,000 last season.

“It doesn’t make sense. Where are they going to get a bat like Jack’s on the left side, I don’t know,” said Michael Watkins, Howell’s agent. “He’s given 125% to the Angels the last two years. The Angels didn’t return that. Jack is very disappointed.”