Smith, Appier Air Grievances

Ordinarily, a team would be thrilled to be getting baseball’s all-time saves leader back in its bullpen.

But for the California Angels, welcoming 471-save man Lee Smith back from the disabled list is tricky, since 26-year-old heir apparent Troy Percival was 8-for-8 in save chances in Smith’s absence. Smith said he will retire or demand a trade if the Angels don’t want him as their closer.

“I don’t think I could help the team in a non-closing role,” Smith said. “You’d be taking a guy out of a position he’s been pretty successful in for 15 years. If I can’t do the job, I wouldn’t want to be here any more.”

Smith, 38, blew his only save opportunity before inflammation in the right knee he injured during the winter forced him onto the disabled list April 4.

Percival pitched 10 scoreless innings over 10 games, with one walk, 14 strikeouts and eight saves, tops in the majors. Manager Marcel Lachemann said the job will be Smith’s again as soon as he shows he is in shape.

Unhappy Appier

Pitcher Kevin Appier, who at $5.05 million takes up more than 27 percent of Kansas City’s $18.4 million player payroll this year, vented his frustration at the team’s stripped-down look after losing for the third time in five starts.

“I love it here. I want to play here. I just want it better here,” said Appier, who will be eligible for free agency after the season. “If they have no plans on winning, well, then I’m not interested in staying here.”

Manager Bob Boone, who has seen the Royals unload high-priced players such as David Cone, Brian McRae, Wally Joyner and Greg Gagne the past two years, said he empathized with Appier to a point, “But it’s not my job to point fingers, and it’s not Kevin Appier’s job to point fingers.”