Joyner Seeks Angel Return

Could “Wally World” have an encore showing in Anaheim?

As the Angels examined their options to replace injured first baseman Mo Vaughn, the agent for Wally Joyner said Thursday that Joyner would be willing to sign a minor league contract and try to win a spot on the team in spring training.

The Angels learned Wednesday that Vaughn would be sidelined at least four months and possibly all of the coming season after surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his left arm. In organizational discussions Thursday, the Angels decided against moving Gold Glove outfielder Darin Erstad to first base, a position he played brilliantly from 1997-99. Manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels plan to move Erstad from left field to center in spring training, switching positions with Garret Anderson.

“For now, Darin’s in the outfield,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said.

Stoneman said he had a stack of phone messages Thursday from agents with available first basemen, but he declined to discuss the Angels’ interest in any or all among a list of free agents that includes Joyner, Henry Rodriguez, Hal Morris and Mike Stanley. Stoneman and Scioscia emphasized that any signees would not be guaranteed a job but rather the chance to compete with Scott Spiezio, who hit 17 home runs in a part-time role last season, and with slick-fielding rookie Larry Barnes, who led the Arizona Fall League with a .355 batting average.

“Even if we do bring in somebody from the outside, it may not be determined which way we’ll go until well into spring training,” Stoneman said.

Joyner, 38, backed up Andres Galarraga for the Atlanta Braves last season and hit .281, including .350 after the All-Star break. He last played for the Angels in 1991, when he hit 21 home runs and drove in 96 runs, and has not matched either total since.

As a rookie in 1986, Joyner played on the Angels’ last division championship team and was the last Angel voted into the starting lineup of the All-Star game.

Barry Axelrod, the agent for Joyner, said he had left a message for Stoneman on Thursday and said Joyner was interested in playing what could be the final season of his career for the Angels.

“It would complete the circle,” Axelrod said.

Also Thursday, the Angels avoided salary arbitration with Spiezio and outfielder Orlando Palmeiro, signing Spiezio to a one-year, $1.125-million contract and Palmeiro to a two-year, $1.9-million deal.

The Angels failed to reach agreement with pitchers Al Levine and Mike Holtz, though the club still can settle with the players before arbitration hearings next month. Holtz asked for $850,000 in arbitration and Levine for $820,000. The Angels offered $600,000 to Holtz and $610,000 to Levine.