Harvey Says Yes to Angels : Baseball: Four-year, $15.5-million contract will make him highest-paid reliever in the majors.

ANAHEIM — The Angels ensured the return of one familiar face next season by reaching agreement Wednesday with Bryan Harvey on a four-year, $15.5-million contract that makes him the highest-paid reliever in the major leagues.

But Whitey Herzog, the Angels’ senior vice president for player personnel, said the team will probably have at least two new players in its starting lineup, with Gary DiSarcina getting a chance to supplant Dick Schofield at shortstop and John Orton auditioning to replace Lance Parrish at catcher.

“When spring training starts, according to our manager (Buck Rodgers), John Orton is going to be given every opportunity to be the starting catcher and DiSarcina the starting shortstop,” Herzog said. “Schofield will probably have to sit and wait to see if DiSarcina can be our shortstop. That’s not a knock on Schofield. We have to know if DiSarcina can play. And (Schofield) is going to be a free agent again after next season.”

Schofield, who accepted arbitration from the Angels after he was unable to work out a free-agent deal with Kansas City, hit .225 in 134 games last season. He hit no home runs and drove in 31 runs. DiSarcina hit only .211 in 18 games with the Angels, but hit .310 for triple-A Edmonton in 119 games.

Parrish’s batting average slipped 52 points to .216 last season, but his 19 home runs is the most for any returning Angel. At 35, he’s in the final year of a contract that will pay him $2.25 million in 1992. Orton is considered a strong defensive catcher, but his offensive performance has hindered his advancement. He hit .203 in 29 games with the Angels last season, collecting four doubles and three RBIs, and hit .224 with Edmonton in 76 games.

“I still feel like it’s my job for him to take away,” Parrish said. “I expect there to be competition coming in spring training, and I expect to be fully prepared for it . . . I don’t intend to give up without a fight.”

Schofield could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Herzog also said Chad Curtis, who hit .316 for Edmonton last season and stole 46 bases, will contend with Junior Felix for the starting job in center field, and Joe Grahe will compete with Don Robinson for the fourth spot in the starting rotation.

Another possible starter is right-hander Dave Johnson, who signed a one-year contract Wednesday for $200,000, plus $120,000 in incentives.

Johnson was 4-8 with a 7.07 earned-run average for Baltimore in 1991 and was released after the season. His best season was 1990, when he was 13-9.

“We’ve got to improve our numbers,” Herzog said, referring to the organization’s lack of depth. “If somebody gets hurt on our big club, we’ve got to get somebody in triple A with experience.”

Herzog, who disputed perceptions that he is ineffectual or lacks direction because of Wally Joyner’s departure and decisions by prize free agents Danny Tartabull and Bobby Bonilla not to sign with the Angels, said he has a plan that will produce a competitive team. That plan includes opening the season with perhaps a half-dozen youngsters, including Lee Stevens at first base.

“We’ve only really got two ways to go: trade or let these kids play,” Herzog said. “I don’t want to trade our pitchers. You sit and wait and there’s always players out there you’re going to want . . . We have to find out if Orton can hit every day. What if Orton can’t hack it with the bat? Then we might have to sign Lance Parrish . . .

“At the start of the season, we’re going to give the kids a chance under fire. By June, we’ll have a pretty good idea what direction to go to be a good club for a long time.”

In signing Harvey, Herzog realized his goal of retaining the nucleus of an outstanding pitching staff. Left-hander Chuck Finley signed a four-year, $18.5-million deal last month, and Mark Langston has three years left on a five-year, $16-million contract. Herzog repeated his intent to sign 18-game winner Jim Abbott to a multi-year deal, and Abbott’s agent, Scott Boras, said Wednesday he expects to soon begin contract talks with the Angels.

Harvey, 28, converted 46 of 52 save opportunities last season, the second-highest percentage in the American League. He led major league relievers with a 1.60 ERA and recorded a career-high 101 strikeouts, second among AL relievers. With the help of his blazing fastball and baffling forkball, Harvey (2-4) was involved in 59.25% of the Angels’ 81 victories.

The Tennessee native, who was signed as a free agent in 1984 after playing in a slo-pitch league, received a $1.5-million signing bonus. He will earn $2.75 million in 1992, $3.75 million in 1993, $3 million in 1994 and $4.5 million in 1995. His contract includes bonuses for winning the Cy Young or Rolaids Relief Man award.

“As a manager, I’ve been very, very lucky to manage Bruce Sutter, Todd Worrell and Lee Smith,” Herzog said of his days with the St. Louis Cardinals. “I came over here in September and I saw Harvey, and I said, ‘We’ve got the best.’ Now we have him for a long time and I hope he stays healthy, because if he does, we won’t have to worry about our bullpen for a long time.”

Harvey said he had no qualms about giving up a chance at free agency after the 1993 season. “Not once we got close,” said Harvey, who earned $1.115 million last season. “I love playing out here. I wanted to stay here, and I’m very happy. This was all Whitey’s idea and I’m glad he’s over here.”

Herzog acknowledged that “on paper, it doesn’t look like we’re as good as we were last year,” but insisted it’s a mistake to write off the Angels. He also said he would not trade Finley or Abbott to acquire the offensive power Bonilla or Tartabull might have provided; he can’t deal Langston because of a no-trade clause in the left-hander’s contract.

“If they offered me Sandy Koufax or Babe Ruth, maybe,” Herzog said. “But they’re dead. Well, Sandy’s arm is dead.”

Herzog already is contemplating next year’s free-agent crop, which might include Joyner, Ryne Sandberg, Barry Larkin, Cal Ripken, Barry Bonds and Ruben Sierra.

“I hope fans realize that because Joyner, Bonilla and Tartabull aren’t here, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a game plan,” Herzog said. “Yeah, my game plan was to sign Bonilla, and if we couldn’t, to get Tartabull. But not for five years. If that falls through, that doesn’t mean you’re dumb or you’re done.”

Highest-Paid Relievers

The highest-paid relief pitchers by average annual value. Figures were obtained by the Associated Press from player and management sources and include all guaranteed income but not income from potential incentive bonuses.

PLAYER TEAM YEARS AVG. SALARY Bryan Harvey Angels 1992-95 $3,875,000 Mark Davis Royals 1990-93 $3,250,000 Mitch Williams Phillies 1992-94 $3,066,667 Dennis Eckerlsey Athletics 1991-92 $3,000,000 Bobby Thigpen White Sox 1991-93 $3,000,000