Angels Interested in Mets’ Wallace

The Angels, looking for a successor to pitching coach Marcel Lachemann, have asked the New York Mets’ permission to talk to former Dodger pitching coach Dave Wallace, currently the Mets’ assistant general manager, sources said Thursday.

Both Bill Bavasi, Angel general manager, and Steve Phillips, Met general manager, refused to comment, but sources said the Mets have yet to give permission for Wallace to meet with the Angels and may not, depending on Wallace’s willingness to return to the field.

Wallace succeeded Ron Perranoski as the Dodger pitching coach in 1995 and left after the 1997 season to join the Met front office. He and Angel Manager Terry Collins are close friends, having worked together in the Dodger farm system, but Wallace has long made his home on the East Coast and may be reluctant to give up a front office position that is only a step below that of general manager.

Lachemann recently gave up his major league job to become minor league field coordinator. The Angels are compiling a list of potential replacements in case Wallace and the Mets turn down their overture.