Angels Roll Out Red Carpet for Johnson

The Angels are trying to close a deal for pitcher Randy Johnson, one of the premier free agents on the market this winter, so who better to summon than their closing specialist?

Angel relief ace Troy Percival played an integral part in the recruitment of Johnson Friday. Percival had lunch with the 6-foot-10 left-hander, his wife and several Angel executives in Edison Field’s Diamond Club, accompanied Johnson on a tour of the stadium and then showed him around town for a few hours.

Johnson’s agent, Barry Meister, had two lengthy meetings with Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi, and Johnson watched Friday night’s Mighty Ducks game with Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner, receiving a warm ovation when he was introduced to the Arrowhead Pond crowd.

“It’s been a real enjoyable day,” Meister said. “We met with a lot of Angel people, and it was a highly positive experience. We have no specific timetable [for making a decision], but everything here has gone great.”

The Angels sent Johnson off with a few lovely parting gifts, including Angel gym bags and Disney-themed rolling suitcases for each of Johnson’s kids.

Johnson, who has made three such recruiting visits and will meet with Dodger officials today, is pondering an offer from the Angels that is believed to be for three or four years and in the $12-million-a-year range.

“They’ve handled things very professionally, just like all the other teams I’ve visited,” said Johnson, an Angel nemesis during his 10-year career in Seattle. “But that’s about all I want to say at this point.”

The Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers have shown significant interest in Johnson, who would like to play for a team near his Phoenix-area home and, preferably, one that trains in Arizona.

The Angels also are close to an agreement with first baseman Mo Vaughn, who was offered a six-year, $72-million deal. Vaughn and Johnson could make decisions by Thanksgiving, but Angel President Tony Tavares would not say Friday whether the Angels are prepared to sign both and add some $24 million to their 1998 payroll.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Tavares said.

Bavasi won’t say whether the offer to Vaughn, tendered more than two weeks ago, has a deadline, but it’s clear the Angels will not wait too long. As a contingency, Bavasi has called Jim Bronner, the agent for Rafael Palmeiro, to express interest in the Baltimore Oriole first baseman.

The Angels have also contacted the agent for Terry Steinbach to express interest in the catcher, a highly regarded defender who played for the Twins last season.