Stoneman: Finley Deal ‘Remote’

Chuck Finley returned from a Hawaiian vacation Wednesday in time to face the decision on whether to leave the Angels, assuming the Angels haven’t made the decision for him.

A short conversation with Finley’s representative early this week left General Manager Bill Stoneman pessimistic about the Angels’ chances to re-sign the left-hander.

“It’s really a remote situation now,” Stoneman said. “What we would offer to Chuck and what he apparently has already been offered is very different. We’re not prepared to enter that neighborhood.”

The Angels are under a deadline that other clubs aren’t. Finley’s contract stipulates he cannot be offered salary arbitration. Therefore, if the Angels do not re-sign him by Tuesday, they cannot negotiate with him until May 1. The New York Yankees face the same deadline concerning David Cone.

The Boston Red Sox contacted Finley’s representatives Wednesday, and so Finley’s hard options have grown to five, with Seattle, Cleveland and both New York teams also considered serious contenders.

Agent Tim Shannon and Stoneman spoke for about 20 minutes, the sides’ most in-depth conversation yet, but Finley’s former club is not one of the four to have extended a contract offer.

The Seattle Mariners have a three-year deal on the table believed to be worth $22 million, though many expect Finley to fetch as much as $28 million over three years.

Stoneman said he hopes to speak with Finley before Tuesday’s deadline in order to gauge Finley’s mind-set.

“He’s an Angel in his heart,” Shannon said of his client. “He always has been and still is. I’m sure there’s a deep and special part of him that would like to be back. I can’t say it looks optimistic. But he told me not to rule them out as long as they don’t rule him out.”

*

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia, who suffered a small fracture in his left eye orbit last week, was told by specialists that he probably won’t need surgery.

After being struck in the eye by a thrown baseball, Scioscia was examined Monday by doctors at UCLA’s Stein Institute. Scioscia experiences occasional double vision, though doctors predicted it would subside. In the meantime, he was cleared for all physical activities.