Cable-TV Cash Does Not Promise Spending Spree

Just about every baseball executive, including Angel President Tony Tavares, has chortled at the New York Yankees’ mammoth cable television contract. Sure, they say, we could sign any free agent we wanted if our cable deal paid $50 million a year.

The Angels’ new deal with Fox isn’t worth nearly that much, but it is still considered one of the better cable contracts in baseball and is believed to be worth five times more annually than the $1 million per season the Angels received from Prime Sports from 1993-97. So, will the Angels allocate millions more toward free agents during the off-season?

Not necessarily, Tavares said. The annual revenues from Fox escalate over the life of the 10-year deal, so the Angels won’t enjoy any dramatic gains from Fox next year, he said.

Tavares stressed, however, that he has authorized General Manager Bill Bavasi to make whatever trades he can to bolster the Angels’ pennant push this season.

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Allen Watson complained last week when he was demoted to the bullpen upon returning from the disabled list. He claimed he could help the Angels more as a starter.

The left-hander will get a chance to back those words when he starts against the Twins tonight in the first game of a seven-game road trip through Minnesota and Kansas City. Watson returned to the rotation, at least temporarily, because of Chuck Finley’s knee injury.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Minnesota Twins, three games.

* Site--Metrodome, Minneapolis.

* Tonight--5.

* TV--Channel 9 tonight.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 53-44, Twins 44-53.

* 1998 Record vs. Twins--3-3.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ ALLEN WATSON (3-5, 6.91 ERA) vs. TWINS’ LaTROY HAWKINS (5-9, 5.35 ERA)

* Update--If the Angels are to have any chance of winning the West, Tim Salmon (no homers, 10 RBIs since June 15), Cecil Fielder (.235 on the season, one homer in July), Jim Edmonds (21 for 96 with one homer since June 23) and Dave Hollins (.246, 34 RBIs this season) need to start producing.

* Wednesday 5 p.m.--Steve Sparks (3-2, 5.12) vs. Brad Radke (9-8, 3.24).

* Thursday 10:15 a.m.--Jason Dickson (9-7, 5.87) vs. Eric Milton (5-7, 4.75).