ANGELS UPDATE: AGENT TAKES SHOT AT DODGERS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Six years ago, Steve Finley set out to reshape his physique. He began an unorthodox exercise regimen that involved lifting no weight heavier than 50 pounds, a program designed to lengthen his career and enhance a quality that years later would make him attractive to the Angels.

Flexibility.

It has enabled Finley to play like a 21-year-old while pushing 40, an advanced athletic age that also made him less expensive as he hit free agency this winter. And it was fiscal flexibility that most enticed the Angels, who finalized a two-year, $14 million deal Friday to make Finley their center fielder.

Finley, acquired by the Dodgers from Arizona at the trading deadline last season, hit .271 with 36 home runs and 94 RBI, capping it with a National League West-clinching grand slam Oct. 2.

Because they did not offer arbitration, the Dodgers will not receive a compensatory draft pick.

``Baseball's coming to where a team like the Dodgers would expose a player like this, and let him go to a crosstown rival, or to a division rival,'' said Tommy Tanzer, Finley's agent. ``They're rookies. (The Angels) aren't.''

In pulling out of the bidding for young, supremely talented but likely $15 million-a-year Carlos Beltran, the Angels will have more money to attack their No. 1 goal, starting pitching. The pursuit will include exploring a trade for Arizona left-hander Randy Johnson.

With free-agent pitchers leaping off the board during the first day of baseball's winter meetings - Arizona gave Russ Ortiz an eye-opening four- year, $33 million deal - the Angels are faced with several scenarios to add a starter.

They will pursue a mid-level talent, such as Chicago Cub Matt Clement, which will likely cost them $24 million over three years. A contract for a top-shelf arm, such as Carl Pavano, could run four years and $40 million, but Pavano might not be lured away from the East Coast.

Johnson would cost $16 million in 2005 and possibly a contract extension, as well as a package of major-league-ready players to ship to the Diamondbacks. Sources indicated Arizona will demand a polished big- league starter to replace Johnson and galvanize its rebuilding effort.

Angels general manager Bill Stoneman is in the game for all of the above, thanks to a mad dash to wrest Finley away from the San Francisco Giants, who offered him more guaranteed money at three years and $17 million.

``Beltran's a special player,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, ``but you sign Beltran, you're done for the winter. We need more than a center fielder. Bill laid it out very clearly to everybody. As he looked around, he sees a chance to get that starting pitching.

``I don't think there's a manager in baseball who doesn't covet Beltran. But he had holes to fill.''

Finley will cost the Angels just $6 million next season, keeping their payroll commitment at roughly $66 million, minus six arbitration-eligible players and several more under club control. By non-tendering some players, the Angels could add Johnson's $16 million, sign a reliever, and keep their payroll around $95 million, within owner Arte Moreno's stated comfort zone.

Finley played with Johnson on Arizona's 2001 World Series winner; he said he'd join the recruiting effort for the dominant left-hander, whom Finley believes would waive his no-trade clause to join the Angels.

``Who wouldn't want him here? I'd love that,'' Finley said. ``He wants to win. This presents that opportunity.

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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Steve Finley's two-year, $14 million contract allows the Angels to pursue a free-agent pitcher or possible trade for Finley's former teammate, Randy Johnson.

Nick Ut/Associated Press