Angels, Watson $1 Million Apart

The Angels and pitcher Allen Watson are about $1 million apart on arbitration figures.

The sides exchanged salary figures Monday, with Watson asking for $3.375 million and the Angels countering with $2.3 million. Arbitration hearings will be heard between Feb. 2-20. Watson’s hearing date has not been set.

Angel officials and Tony Giordano, Watson’s agent, are expected to continue negotiations this week in an attempt to reach an agreement before the hearing. Bill Bavasi has not had an arbitration case since he became the Angels’ general manager in 1994.

“Our goal is always to sign the player and have him in [spring training] camp,” Bavasi said. “We are open to anything; the most likely scenario, though, would be a one-year deal. But we are not afraid to talk about anything [else that] makes sense for both sides.”

Watson, 27, made $1.2 million last season and finished 12-12 with a 4.93 earned-run average. He and the Angels were headed for arbitration a year ago but worked out a deal on the day they exchanged figures.