Team Enters Off-Season With Staff That May Be Over the Hill

Scouring for pitching, as always, will be a primary chore for the Angels in the off-season. This year, there may be even more urgency.

Chuck Finley will be another year older. Jack McDowell may retire. Ken Hill’s elbow still creaks. Allen Watson expects to be pitching elsewhere next season. They were four of the team’s five starters when the season began.

The possibility of a top-notch free agent, like Randy Johnson, coming to Anaheim is slim.

So the Angels can only hope that Jarrod Washburn’s performance Sunday was more than a season-ending gimme. Washburn gave up three hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 victory over the Oakland A’s in front of 22,819.

“We have Chuck and Kenny and, hopefully, we’ll be able to re-sign [Steve] Sparks,” Manager Terry Collins said. “But I expect Jarrod to be right in that mix. You need all the depth you can get.”

The Angels do not exactly have a storied history in developing pitchers, but have few pitchers on the fence.

Jason Dickson slipped to 10-10 and spent a month at triple-A Vancouver. Prospect Scott Schoeneweis spent the entire season at Vancouver.

And Washburn went 6-3, splitting time between Anaheim and Vancouver. He won his first four starts before going 1-2 in July.

Washburn was sharp Sunday, giving up only one hit through six innings, and retired 14 consecutive batters until Matt Stairs doubled with one out in the seventh.

Washburn got some veteran support. Randy Velarde had a two-run double, Jim Edmonds had a run-scoring single and Garret Anderson had a solo home run.

“I hope I’ve pitched my last minor league game,” Washburn said. “When the season began, I didn’t expect to be here, unless as a September call-up. I think I’ve shown I can pitch here. My plan is to come in and compete and win a job in the rotation.”

Dickson expects the same. He was inconsistent from the start and was demoted to the bullpen. He won seven consecutive games, five as a starter, before deteriorating again and was sent to Vancouver on Aug. 10.

He has given up only two hits in eight shutout innings, all in relief, since rejoining the Angels.

“I feel real comfortable right now, like I did last season,” Dickson said. “I’ve pitched well since coming back. Now I don’t have to go home this week and beat my head against the wall, wondering what I did wrong.”

Watson, who the Angels signed to a one-year, $2.9-million contract, said he would not return, not that the Angels will be asking.

Watson began the year in the starting rotation, but went on the disabled because of a sore elbow. He made 14 starts, but only two since Aug. 1 and finished 6-7 with a 6.04 earned-run average.

*

Outfielder Gregg Jefferies would take a pay cut to remain with the Angels. He has an $5-million option year in his contract, but Jefferies said he would waive it.

But a significant cut in playing time is another matter.

“I don’t want to be a platoon player,” Jefferies said. “I’m not ready for that yet. Maybe when I’m 40. If that’s the case, there are other teams out there.”

*

Todd Greene said he will be able to catch four days a week next season, if the off-season rehabilitation on his shoulder goes well. Greene was coming off shoulder surgery and was limited to 29 games this season, playing outfield, first base and designated hitter. . . . Tim Salmon will have surgery today to repair a torn ligament in his left foot.