Angels Seem Close to a Doubleheader

This could be a monumental week in Angel history, beginning with the signing of free-agent first baseman Mo Vaughn, which appears more and more imminent, and possibly ending with the signing of pitcher Randy Johnson.

Estimated price tag for the pair: almost $130 million.

“I’m going to sign with the Angels soon,” Vaughn told the Boston Globe on Tuesday. “We’re just working out some structural issues.”

Vaughn, who could agree to a six-year deal worth up to $80 million as soon as today, is so sure he’ll be playing in Anaheim next season that he said he phoned Johnson this week and urged him to sign with the Angels, as well.

There are also indications that a franchise that has been notorious for its penny-pinching ways in recent years will be able to afford Vaughn and Johnson if both commit to the Angels, adding some $24 million to the payroll.

But one source familiar with the Vaughn negotiations cautioned, “It’s not that close . . . it’s not that they’ve hit a snag, they’re just not there yet.”

Johnson, who tormented the Angels for years as the Seattle Mariners’ ace, has apparently whittled his list of finalists to three, the Angels, Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, all of whom have made four-year offers in the $48- million range.

The Houston Astros, unwilling to commit to a four-year deal for a 35-year- old power pitcher with a history of back problems, pulled out of the Johnson sweepstakes Tuesday. They had offered Johnson three years at $33 million.

Alan Nero, one of Johnson’s agents, said the Big Unit has not eliminated the Texas Rangers, who have made a four-year, $51-million offer, but the Angels appear to have the upper hand over their American League West rivals for a player who could swing the balance of power in their division--or the National League West.

“It will come down to two teams, Arizona and someone,” Nero said. “My guess is it will be Arizona and Anaheim, or Arizona and Los Angeles. It’s not an easy decision. . . . Maybe his buddy Mo Vaughn can help him.”

The San Diego Padres, who are trying to re-sign ace Kevin Brown, also called Johnson’s agent Tuesday to express interest in the 6-foot-10 left-hander, but they may have entered the bidding too late.

“I know we’re definitely one of the two finalists,” said Arizona owner Jerry Colangelo, who recently signed pitcher Todd Stottlemyre to a four-year, $32-million contract. “Everyone is assuming the other one is Anaheim, and that’s probably correct.”

Johnson spoke with Angel front-office officials several times throughout the day Tuesday and had at least two discussions with Angel right fielder Tim Salmon, who lives near Johnson in the Phoenix area. When Johnson visited Anaheim on Friday, he spent a few hours driving around with closer Troy Percival looking at houses.

Johnson, who prefers to play near his Phoenix home and for a team with a spring training complex in Arizona, has asked the Angels, Diamondbacks and Dodgers to give him a few more days to make his decision, which is not expected to come until after Thanksgiving.

“I talked to Alan Nero [Tuesday] morning, and he assured me we’re in the thick of it,” Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone said. “If we wants to stay home, he might decide on Arizona. If he wants to stay in the American League, it will come down to Anaheim and Texas.”

Staff writer Ross Newhan contributed to this story.