Nederlanders Cooling?

As Disney intensifies its effort to sell the Angels, negotiations between the company and the Nederlander family are believed to have cooled, sources familiar with the process said Wednesday.

The group led by brothers Robert and James Nederlander, theater impresarios and limited partners in the New York Yankees, has been considered the favorite for months. However, an investment bank retained by Disney recently has lured at least two other serious suitors. At the same time, sources said, several issues -- including price -- have stalled negotiations between the Nederlanders and Disney.

Neil Papiano, the Los Angeles lawyer representing the Nederlanders, said he believes a deal with Disney remains possible.

“We are still moving on it,” Papiano said, “maybe not with the speed we’d prefer, but we’re still there. We continue to have ongoing discussions, and we remain willing to pay what we think the club is worth.

“Obviously, you have to have a buyer and seller, and Disney has a right to sell to whoever they want, but we’d like to think that we represent an attractive choice in that all of our group is either based in Southern California or has business interests in Southern California.”

The Nederlanders own and/or operate several area entertainment venues, including the Grove of Anaheim, a theater adjacent to Edison Field.

Boston real estate developer Frank McCourt, one of the other bidders, is believed to be willing to include local investors as minority partners, but it is not clear whether he already has pursued them or would do so only after winning a bid for the Angels.

McCourt also has visited with Peter O’Malley, the former Dodger owner. O’Malley said he has met with several prospective bidders for the Angels -- and Dodgers -- to discuss the landscape of major league baseball in the region but is not a part of any proposed ownership group.

An unidentified third bidder recently has toured Edison Field. That anonymity could work in that party’s favor, as Disney’s corporate history reflects a preference for completing deals without public speculation. In 1995, Disney bought ABC/Capital Cities for $19 billion, without word of negotiations leaking.

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Chone Figgins joined the Angels on Wednesday, promoted from triple-A Salt Lake to replace the injured Adam Kennedy. Last season’s designated pinch-runner was immediately inserted into the starting lineup at second base.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I get to actually play in a game this time.”