Percival and Salmon Praise Disney

Troy Percival and Tim Salmon, two current Angels who were with the franchise in 1996 when the Walt Disney Co. purchased it from founding owner Gene Autry, said Wednesday they appreciated Disney’s efforts in building a World Series champion.

“They did a lot of good things for this organization,” Salmon said of Disney, which has agreed in principle to sell the Angels to former billboard magnate Arturo Moreno. “We got the [renovated] ballpark and they did a lot of things to make it a fan-friendly environment and we won a World Series with them, so what can you say?”

Angel ace Jarrod Washburn said Tuesday he was glad the Angels, engaged in negotiations to sell the team for the last four years, were being sold to “someone who wants us.”

But Percival said Disney’s willingness last season to spend the money required to complete a championship-caliber roster was the primary reason he signed a two-year extension in February 2002. Team officials picked up starting pitcher Kevin Appier and designated hitter Brad Fullmer and signed Aaron Sele for $24 million over three years, the largest contract the team had awarded a free-agent pitcher.

“I can’t say enough about what they did last year,” Percival said. “They made some adjustments from the early years and put enough payroll out there to give us an opportunity to win, and that’s all anybody asks for. That’s why I decided to come back.”

Disney also kept the World Series champions intact this season by approving an $84-million payroll -- a substantial increase over last year’s $62 million figure -- though General Manager Bill Stoneman assembled the opening-day roster for $76 million, leaving him some wiggle room for later this season.

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Second baseman Adam Kennedy (strained right hamstring) is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday and could rejoin the Angels on Tuesday in Anaheim against the New York Yankees.