Anderson Is Still Waiting for an Offer

The Angels have yet to make a long-promised contract extension offer to Garret Anderson, his agent said Wednesday, and they could risk losing their All-Star outfielder in free agency next fall if a new deal is not concluded by opening day.

“If it gets beyond spring training, there won’t be any discussions,” agent Chris Arnold said. “We will not discuss an extension during the season. That’s the only criterion we’ve put on this thing. If it gets done, it gets done before the start of the season.”

As the field of contenders for outfielder Vladimir Guerrero could be winnowing to the Angels and Baltimore Orioles, the Angels’ pursuit of Guerrero could complicate negotiations with Anderson. In order to sign Guerrero, the Angels might have to pay him more per year than Anderson, their most valuable player three years running.

General Manager Bill Stoneman would not address the status of talks with Anderson but said the Angels remain interested in negotiating an extension. He declined to discuss Guerrero in particular but said that the pursuit of any free agent would not affect the Angels’ ability to negotiate a fair deal with Anderson.

“Those decisions are individual decisions,” Stoneman said.

Montreal President Tony Tavares confirmed Wednesday that the Expos had offered Guerrero a five-year, $75-million contract. The Expos received no response and have since withdrawn the offer, he said. Fernando Cuza, one of Guerrero’s agents, did not return calls.

The Expos have not decided whether to offer salary arbitration, which would give Guerrero the option to return to Montreal on a one-year contract. He made $11.5 million last season. If he wins an arbitration hearing, he could account for almost half of the Expos’ $40-million player payroll.

Although Guerrero is one of the best players available in free agency, the traditional big-money suitors appear content to skip this courtship. The New York Yankees are talking with Gary Sheffield, the Chicago Cubs have Sammy Sosa, and the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers each have an albatross in Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez.

The Atlanta Braves could jump in, but they might spend their money on pitching. The Angels, concerned Guerrero might prefer to remain in the National League, remain wary of the possible involvement of the Dodgers and New York Mets.

The Orioles might be willing to discuss a six-year, $90-million contract, a baseball source said. The Angels would be hesitant to agree to a similar deal. They also have cited the back injury that sidelined him last year as a source of concern, although Tavares said the Expos had no anxiety about Guerrero’s health.

“We wouldn’t have made the offer if we thought that was an issue,” Tavares said.

As the Angels have signed pitcher Kelvim Escobar and pursued Guerrero, shortstops Kazuo Matsui and Miguel Tejada and outfielder Shannon Stewart, Anderson has heard nothing. Anderson will make $6.2 million next season, less than the Angels will pay Tim Salmon, Troy Glaus, Darin Erstad, Troy Percival, Aaron Sele and the departed Kevin Appier.

Anderson’s contract expires after next season. Arnold said he hopes to negotiate a four-year extension through 2008, including a raise for next season. He declined to discuss proposed salaries.

Anderson, 31, figures to command significantly more than Salmon, who averages $10 million on a four-year extension through 2005, when he will be 37.

Stoneman told Arnold as far back as August that the Angels wanted to negotiate a contract extension after the season, and owner Arte Moreno identified a new deal for Anderson as a top priority. Arnold said he forwarded statistical data to Stoneman one month ago and invited the Angels to make a proposal. He has received no response, he said.

“I don’t know of a player in baseball that would bring to the table less risk than Garret Anderson,” Arnold said.

Anderson has played in 637 of 648 games over the last four seasons, averaging 30 home runs and 120 runs batted in.

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The slim chance of the Angels reaching agreement with first baseman Scott Spiezio grew slimmer Wednesday, when agent Barry Meister said Spiezio would not accept a contract with a low base salary and incentive clauses tied to playing time. Although such a deal could enable him to be paid as a starter if he emerged as one and could protect the Angels’ treasury if he did not, Meister said no such deal has been offered and in any case would not be accepted.

“We would have absolutely no interest in doing that,” Meister said. “If they want Scott Spiezio, they have to commit to want the player. If they want to sign a guy for $700,000 or $800,000, they should sign the appropriate player.”

Spiezio wants to return to Anaheim but also wants an everyday job, the availability of which depends on the Angels’ moves in coming weeks. The Angels are expected to forfeit negotiating rights to Spiezio, who made $4.25 million last season, by refusing to offer him arbitration by the Sunday deadline.