Angels don’t offer contract to oft-injured McPherson

The Angels offered contracts Wednesday to closer Francisco Rodriguez, infielder Maicer Izturis and outfielder Juan Rivera, but they have given up on oft-injured third baseman Dallas McPherson. As the deadline for offering contracts to unsigned players approached, the Angels allowed McPherson to become a free agent.

McPherson, once touted as a potential 40-home run hitter, sat out the 2007 season after back surgery. He played this fall in the Arizona instructional league, hitting .240 in 25 at bats with two home runs and was listed third on the Angels’ depth chart at third base behind Chone Figgins and Izturis.

The Angels drafted McPherson in the second round of the 2001 first-year player draft.

McPherson, 27, said the Angels offered him a one-year contract but backed off before a deal could be finalized.

“We were close to an agreement on a contract,” he said. “For whatever reason, they decided to pull the offer off the table. I wanted to be an Angel.

“They’ve been loyal to me. My biggest regret [is that] I can’t return that loyalty, the investment the Angels made in me.”

A team spokesman said the Angels will continue to negotiate with Rodriguez, Izturis and Rivera, who are eligible for arbitration if they cannot reach a deal by early February.