ANGELS SIGN SELE; VAUGHN TRADE NEAR METS STILL TRYING TO LAND FIRST BASEMAN.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Free-agent pitcher Aaron Sele is in and although Mo Vaughn remained an Angel for another day Wednesday, he could be out as early as today.

The Angels signed Sele to a three-year, $24 million deal. The 31-year- old went 15-5 with a 3.60 ERA last season for the American League West-champion Seattle Mariners and has a career record of 107-68 (.611).

``He was very high on our list when we looked at the free-agent pitchers out there,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``I think Aaron brings not only experience to our staff but he is a guy who's been very productive.

``He fits right in with (Jarrod) Washburn, (Ramon) Ortiz and (Scott) Schoeneweis. With a guy like Sele, who's a proven starter, these guys can follow the leader.''

Sele has thrown 200-plus innings four seasons in a row, including a career-best 215 innings last season. He won 69 games during those four seasons, more than any other pitcher in the American League and behind only Randy Johnson (76), Greg Maddux (73) and Tom Glavine (71) in the majors.

So how did someone with such credentials end up with the Angels, a club trying to cut and save wherever it can? Sele targeted the Angels immediately after the season when the Mariners told him they weren't interested in re-signing him.

``Seattle's my home and I'd prefer playing here, but they told us they were going to go out and sign offense,'' Sele said. ``And that's what they did. They were up-front and honest about it. They never even offered a contract.''

Two other teams offered Sele contracts, but neither was on the West Coast and Sele wanted to stay as close as possible to his family.

``If I went too far east, I think both sets of grandparents would have hunted us down,'' Sele joked.

Sele's agent contacted the Angels early in the offseason but the Angels rejected their proposal.

``We said no to him some time ago,'' Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said. ``Not because we didn't want him, but because his asking price was too high.''

But with teams reluctant to spend a lot of money this offseason, Sele lowered his asking price and found a fit with the Angels.

``I'm delighted we found something within our price range,'' Stoneman said of the deal that will pay Sele $7.5 million in 2002, $8 million in 2003 and $8.5 million in 2004.

Considering the club is up for sale and few expected the Angels to make such a financial commitment to a free agent, the move surprised many. But Stoneman said he isn't concerned with public perception.

``I really don't know what people thought we were or weren't going to do,'' he said. ``Nothing has changed as far as what our objectives are. We're happy an opportunity like this came along but we weren't going to go beyond what we're capable of doing.''

Meanwhile, Vaughn's agent, Jeff Moorad, and the New York Mets continued to work on restructuring Vaughn's contract. An agreement would allow the first baseman to join the Mets in a trade for pitcher Kevin Appier.

The 72-hour window to negotiate a deal ended at 9 a.m. PST Wednesday, but the commissioner's office granted a 24-hour extension. Vaughn is still owed $50 million over the remaining three years of his contract.

``We're still talking,'' Moorad told the Associated Press. ``Mo is excited about the possibility of playing in New York, and as a result we are trying our best to accommodate everyone involved. I'm an optimist by nature and hope that with some more focus and attention, it's a deal that can be put together.''

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