Angels Are Likely to Strike Out in Their Pitch to Finley

What slim chance the Angels have of signing Chuck Finley to a new contract will hinge on a meeting between General Manager Bill Stoneman and the free-agent pitcher this morning.

Finley, who turns 37 this month but has never had a major arm or shoulder injury, is looking for a three-year deal in the $26-million range and wants assurances the Angels plan to field a competitive team.

But Angel President Tony Tavares says Finley’s asking price is “high” and was skeptical about the team’s chances of increasing a projected $60-million payroll enough to add the kinds of players necessary to challenge for the American League pennant.

“I think they finally told the world what they’re going to do, and I commend them for being honest,” said Tim Shannon, Finley’s agent. “My sense is they’re going to retool the team, so why re-sign a guy for $30 million if they don’t have a chance to win? I don’t blame them. I’m kind of glad it’s out of the closet.”

Shannon had a 45-minute phone conversation with Stoneman Tuesday, and he said Finley, who has spent his entire 14-year career in Anaheim, will give the Angels a chance to make a sales pitch and an offer before fielding offers from other teams.

“I told [Stoneman] if Chuck feels the Angels are going in the right direction and have a chance to win, he’s interested,” Shannon said. “If they’re going to retool, it would be tough to stay.”

After meeting with Stoneman, Finley and Shannon plan to travel to Phoenix to meet with Seattle General Manager Pat Gillick. The Indians, Rockies, Orioles and Yankees also are interested in Finley, and Shannon received a call from the Mets Tuesday.

Tavares did not seem optimistic about the Angels’ chances of re-signing Finley, especially considering Finley’s asking price and age. The Angels gave 37-year-old Tim Belcher a two-year, $10.2-million deal last winter, and Belcher suffered through an injury-marred season in which he went 6-8 with a 6.73 earned-run average. They are also obligated to pay injury-prone right-hander Ken Hill $5.6 million in 2000.

“Chuck is 37, and I think he’ll have a good year next season,” Tavares said. “But can you tell me how he’s going to be in the second and third year [of a three-year contract]? I don’t have an answer, but that’s a concern.”

The Angels had a chance to sign Finley to a contract extension in spring training but didn’t. They could have traded him to the Indians for two or three players in July and didn’t. If they lose him now, they will receive no compensation in the form of draft picks from the team that signs him because his contract forbids the Angels from offering salary arbitration.

So, the Angels could lose one of the top three pitchers in franchise history and have nothing to show for it, and Tavares held little hope of a last-place Angel team improving enough to satisfy Finley when he said:

“One of the things Chuck has to analyze is whether or not this team is going to win. If I’m him, I’m thinking, I’ve got three years left, who do I want to play for? A team that is just getting by or one that has a real chance of winning?”