ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANGELS CLOSE TO GUILLEN DEAL.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

The Angels are poised to make official a two-year, $6 million deal with free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen.

Guillen told reporters in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday that he's agreed to the contract with the Angels, who would make him the primary right fielder. Tim Salmon, as expected, would become the primary designated hitter.

Guillen's agent, Adam Katz, did not return phone calls Tuesday.

Baseball sources said the deal was nearing completion but not yet done, perhaps pending a physical examination.

Guillen, better known for his defense during his seven-year career, hit .311 with a career-high 31 homers for Cincinnati and Oakland last year, and he led the A's with a .455 average in the American League division series despite a broken hamate bone in his left hand.

Another player the Angels have contacted, free-agent infielder Todd Walker, is waiting to see whether a blockbuster deal between Boston and Texas goes through. That scenario would enable him to replace Michael Young as the Rangers' starting second baseman, with Young replacing Alex Rodriguez at shortstop.

--Business moves: Two longtime business associates of Angels owner Arte Moreno have become limited partners in the team, Moreno announced.

Bill Levine, who partnered with Moreno in 1984 to build Outdoor Systems from a fledgling billboard company to a conglomerate, and Bill Beverage, the team's chief financial officer, recently were approved by Major League Baseball to join Moreno's ownership group.

Levine is expected to aid Moreno in his effort to develop a new spring- training complex for the Angels in Goodyear, Ariz. That process picked up momentum Monday when the Goodyear City Council endorsed a $30 million funding package for the site.

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com