VanLandingham Gives the Angels a Versatile Arm

The Angels added depth to their pitching staff and some spice to spring training Saturday when they agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free- agent pitcher William VanLandingham, a former San Francisco Giant right-hander whose potential has gone largely unfulfilled.

The rotation appeared set with Chuck Finley, Ken Hill, Allen Watson, Jason Dickson and Omar Olivares, but the addition of VanLandingham, 27, will create competition for the fifth spot and provide a fallback in case of injury.

“He has a broad spectrum of opportunities here,” Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “He could start, he could pitch middle relief or situational relief. I wouldn’t pigeon-hole him into any one spot.”

VanLandingham has been erratic during his four-year career--he walked more batters (59) than he struck out (52) for the Giants last season, amassing 23 walks during one four-start stretch in May and June, and he led the Class-A Northwest League with 25 wild pitches in 1991.

But VanLandingham has shown flashes of brilliance, coming within five outs of pitching a no-hitter against the Dodgers on July 14, 1996, and it is that potential that always attracted the Angels to VanLandingham.

The Angels considered trading for VanLandingham last winter before acquiring then-Giant lefthander Watson for first baseman J.T. Snow, and they thought about pursuing him after San Francisco waived him last August.

VanLandingham made $295,000 in 1997 and was eligible for arbitration this winter, but the Giants, put off by VanLandingham’s request for a hefty raise after going 4-7 with a 4.96 earned-run average in 18 games, did not tender him a contract in December.

The Angels also have been talking to free-agent second baseman Mark Lemke, the former Atlanta Brave whose agent, Lonnie Cooper, told the Atlanta Constitution-Journal the Angels were “looking at Mark being a very important part of their team in 1998.”

But Bavasi said those conversations took place while the Angels also were negotiating with infielder Norberto Martin, and that the signing of Martin to a $425,000 contract Friday greatly reduces the chances of the Angels signing Lemke.

“You never say never, though,” Bavasi said. The questions surrounding the return of second baseman Randy Velarde, who sat out all of 1997 because of elbow-reconstruction surgery, have forced the Angels to seek insurance at second base.