Angels Aren’t the Only Ones Awaiting Vaughn’s Decision

The Angels need a second baseman, and Randy Velarde wants to sign with the Angels. So who’s holding up the deal?

Mo Vaughn.

Velarde and Vaughn share the same agent, Tom Reich. Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi met with Reich on Tuesday and discussed a contract for Velarde, but Velarde said Thursday he has yet to receive a formal offer.

With Vaughn and the Boston Red Sox apparently severing their relationship Wednesday, Reich worked Thursday to canvass the market for teams that might want to bid against the Angels. Last week, the Angels offered the slugger a six-year, $72-million contract.

“Whatever he signs for, I’ll just take the interest on that,” Velarde said with a laugh.

With rookie second baseman Justin Baughman expected to miss the start of next season after surgery to repair a broken leg, Velarde holds negotiating leverage. However, he said he will not solicit offers from other teams unless he cannot strike a deal with the Angels.

“We’re going to give the Angels all the opportunity to sign me. They deserve that opportunity,” he said. “They invested in me for the last three years. I’ve only been healthy one of the three years.”

In 1996, the first season of a three-year, $2.4-million contract with the Angels, Velarde hit .285 with a career-high 14 home runs. He sat out all of the 1997 season and much of the 1998 season after reconstructive elbow surgery.

Velarde agreed the Angels must improve their pitching, even should they sign Vaughn, but objected to any trade of center fielder Jim Edmonds. The Angels plan to explore trading Edmonds for a top pitcher if they sign Vaughn, moving Darin Erstad from first base to center field.

“I think that’s a mistake,” Velarde said. “Edmonds is a player that can hurt you in so many ways--average, defense, power. To get all three of those in one player is very difficult. You could get a quality pitcher for him, but I wouldn’t make that move.”