DiSarcina Has Angel Incentives

After cutting loose Gary DiSarcina in October, the Angels reeled their veteran shortstop back in Wednesday with an incentive-laced minor league contract that could pay DiSarcina as much as $3.45 million if he recovers from rotator-cuff surgery and plays the entire 2001 season.

The non-guaranteed deal includes a base salary of $700,000 if DiSarcina, who missed all but 12 games in 2000, makes the team out of spring training. The Angels, unsure about DiSarcina’s shoulder, declined to pick up his $3.45-million option for 2001, and DiSarcina became a free agent.

But if DiSarcina, who received calls from Angel Manager Mike Scioscia, left fielder Darin Erstad and former owner Jackie Autry urging him to stay in Anaheim, is on the major league roster for 180 days, starts 150 games and makes 500 plate appearances next season, he will receive $3.45 million.

“Gary wanted to come back, but he didn’t want to be embarrassed,” said Tom Tanzer, DiSarcina’s agent. “Bill [Stoneman, Angel general manager] is giving him a chance to make what he would have made, so he’s happy.”

The Angels had expressed interest in free agent Alex Gonzalez, but their signing of DiSarcina, 33, probably will end any pursuit of the Toronto Blue Jay shortstop.

Benji Gil, who split time with Kevin Stocker at shortstop in 2000, will return in 2001, and Stoneman is expected to pursue another younger, lower-cost shortstop through trade or free agency as a contingency if DiSarcina isn’t ready.

DiSarcina has a career .258 average and has been considered the glue to the Angel infield since 1992, but his last two seasons have been marred by injury--he sat out half of 1999 because of a broken left forearm.

Shoulder problems hampered DiSarcina at the beginning of 2000, and he was eventually diagnosed with a major rotator-cuff tear that required surgery last May. But DiSarcina has been throwing for more than a month and expects to be ready for spring training.

By signing him to a minor league deal, the Angels won’t have to decide next April whether to release DiSarcina if he is not fully recovered. DiSarcina can continue to rehabilitate the shoulder in the minor leagues, and his major league base salary will be adjusted accordingly when he returns to Anaheim.

“This gives both the Angels and Gary some flexibility if he’s not ready by April 1, but he’s close to being ready,” Tanzer said. “Bill Stoneman was real honest throughout this whole process. That’s why Gary is coming back.”