Angels Hoping McDowell Can Bolster Rotation

The Angels agreed to terms on a one-year, $1-million contract with free-agent right-hander Jack McDowell on Wednesday night, proving that, as the old baseball adage goes, you really can’t have enough pitching.

McDowell, who can earn an additional $5 million in incentives by starting 30 games and pitching 210 innings, will join Chuck Finley, Ken Hill, Allen Watson and Jason Dickson in a rotation the Angels believe will be the strongest in the American League West.

Left out in the cold will be Omar Olivares, William VanLandingham and Rich Robertson, who were competing for the fifth rotation spot before McDowell, the 1993 Cy Young Award winner, was signed.

The Angels received extensive medical reports from two physicians and are confident McDowell is healed from his 1997 elbow surgery, which sidelined him for most of the season.

But as a hedge, McDowell’s contract is weighted heavily toward incentives, the bulk of which kick in after 20 starts.

“There’s a shared risk,” Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “If he does well, everyone comes out ahead.”

Two of McDowell’s former teams, the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, also expressed interest, but McDowell, who lives in San Diego, felt Anaheim was the best fit.

“You have to look at what teams have a need and who has a chance to win, and the Angels are right up there with anyone,” McDowell said. “I’m not looking for comfort. I’m looking for discomfort, pressure, a place where people want to win and expect a lot out of me.”

McDowell, 32, is a two-time 20-game winner with a 122-80 record and 3.76 earned-run average. From 1990-96 he averaged 31 starts and 223 innings.

“I like Jack’s approach--he’s a warrior and that’s important to us,” Bavasi said. “He’ll give us a big lift in the clubhouse and on the field. Simply put, he makes us a better club.”

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Wednesday night’s exhibition game against Arizona was canceled because of soggy grounds in Tempe Diablo Stadium. . . . Pitching Coach Marcel Lachemann, umpiring behind the mound in Wednesday’s intrasquad game, was hit on the back of the right hand by an errant throw, and his hand was put in a soft cast.