Port Packs But Talk Goes On

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —  After much talk and little action, the Angels’ contingent left baseball’s winter meetings Wednesday, one of the first groups to depart.

But the early exit doesn’t signify that the Angels have abandoned the free-agent and trade markets. In addition to their interest in free agent Robin Yount and ongoing discussions with the Phillies and Red Sox, there’s growing suspicion that the Angels will make a bid for San Diego reliever Mark Davis, the 1989 National League Cy Young Award winner.

Angel General Manager Mike Port, usually quick to quash rumors, did not deny the club’s interest in Davis, a free agent whose services could be more costly than the five-year, $16-million contract Mark Langston signed with the Angels last week. Davis also wants a five-year deal and the Padres have said they won’t offer contracts of that length.

Responding to a question about Davis, Port said, “I’ll say there’s still some things we’re working on, some irons in the fire.”

Davis said a few weeks ago that he had talked to the Angels; his agent, Randy Hendricks, declined on Wednesday to comment on the current status of talks with the Angels.

While it might take time to work out a deal with Davis, the Angels appear closer to trades with the Red Sox and Phillies. The Angels conducted preliminary talks with both clubs during the meetings and could settle specific names with the Red Sox today; they’d like Ellis Burks and are willing to relinquish center fielder Devon White or second baseman Johnny Ray or right-handed pitcher Kirk McCaskill.

Port said he chatted on Wednesday with White, who was in Nashville to receive his Gold Glove award. He said he told White, “We don’t have any untouchables, although to a certain degree, it would be difficult to part with certain individuals. I told him, ‘If anything happens, you’ll hear from me or Dan (O’Brien, the Angels’ senior vice president for baseball operations).’ I did ask him, ‘Do you have an answering machine in case we need to reach you?’ ”

That call could come soon.

Red Sox General Manager Lou Gorman talked about a potential trade with the Angels.

“There are some possible ways of doing something with them,” “I’m going to talk to Dan, Dan’s going to talk to Mike and Mike is supposed to call me (today).”

When asked if the Red Sox were prepared to give up an outfielder, Gorman replied, “I’d rather not say.”

The Angels and Phillies have discussed several deals, but the latest would send McCaskill to Philadelphia for Von Hayes. But that move--or any transaction with the Red Sox--could hinge on whether Yount remains in Milwaukee or signs with the Angels. Yount’s decision is not expected this week.

Port said he wasn’t perturbed about leaving Nashville without making a deal, and that he would not be disappointed if he made no other trades before next season.

“Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make,” he said. “At level one, even prior to last Friday (when the Angels signed Langston), we had very good feelings about our club coming off last season. Adding Mark Langston made our strength that much stronger and broadens our dimensions.

“A lot of groundwork was laid here. . . . A lot of things that might still work out. The environment sometimes creates a sense of urgency, but there’s nothing we need to do today that we can’t do later. We laid some constructive groundwork. And even if everything stopped today, we’ve still got Mark Langston.”

Angel Notes

Jamie Nelson, a free-agent catcher who spent last season with the Angels’ triple-A Edmonton affiliate, signed a contract with Minnesota’s Portland affiliate. Nelson played at Orange Coast College.