Lee Stevens’ Wrist Worries Angels : Angels: Successor to first baseman Wally Joyner is wearing a cast on right wrist, which has bothered him since last season.

Having lost first baseman Wally Joyner to the Kansas City Royals as a free agent, the Angels are now concerned about an injury to the right wrist of successor Lee Stevens.

Although there was no announcement by the club, team physician Lewis Yocum placed the wrist in a cast two weeks ago and will make another evaluation when the cast comes off Feb. 5.

“It’s a concern in that he had problems with it late in the season, we were under the assumption he was doing better and now it’s late (in terms of the start of spring training in mid-February),” Yocum said Monday.

Stevens, who drove in 96 runs in 123 games at triple-A Edmonton last year, was examined by Yocum at his Inglewood office after experiencing soreness when he recently resumed batting practice at his Wichita, Kan., home.

He complained of discomfort throughout the 1991 season and aggravated the condition diving for a ball with the Angels in September. X-rays taken before the wrist was immobilized were negative, Yocum said. He added that he did not believe surgery would be required, and that therapy and/or an injection are possibilities for further treatment.

Agent Dennis Gilbert said the cast is strictly a protective measure and that Stevens is expected to be 100% by spring training.

However, Manager Buck Rodgers said, “This is a non-medical opinion, but if it hasn’t cleared up in three or four months with no baseball activity, what are three weeks in a cast going to do? I’m making alternative plans.”

Rodgers meant that he is considering options such as using Hubie Brooks or Von Hayes at first base.

Said Senior Vice President Whitey Herzog: “Until Stevens is 100%, I have to be concerned, but right now I’m willing to wait and see (if a personnel move is necessary).”

However, the general manager of a National League team, insisting on anonymity, said the Angels didn’t announce the decision to put Stevens’ wrist in a cast because they are attempting to trade for a first baseman and did not want it to appear that their “back was to the wall.”

Among the possibilities: A three-way deal that would send shortstop Dick Schofield to the Milwaukee Brewers for pitcher Chris Bosio, who would be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Ricky Jordan.