BASEBALL NOTEBOOK:: ANGELS DEAL PAIR TO A'S.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

The Angels made a trade Thursday night, but it wasn't the deal that has been anticipated for weeks.

Pitcher Chuck Finley is still an Angel - for now. Instead, the Angels sent second baseman Randy Velarde and starting pitcher Omar Olivares to the Oakland A's for three minor-leaguers. The Angels got pitcher Elvin Nina and outfielders Jeff DaVanon and Nathan Haynes in exchange for their most consistent player and pitcher this season.

Velarde is hitting .306 with nine homers and 48 RBI, and Olivares is 8-9 with a 4.05 ERA in 20 starts.

Sending Velarde seems to be a sign the Angels are about to trade Finley to the Indians because one of the players the Angels would like in return is speedy second baseman Enrique Wilson.

Both Velarde and Olivares are free agents at the end of this season.

Nina, a right-hander from the Dominican Republic, was a 17th-round pick of the A's in 1997. DaVanon was a 26th-round pick of the A's in 1995, and Haynes was chosen the first round of the supplemental draft in '97.

-Joe Haakenson

More umps ejected: Thirteen National League umpires lost their jobs Thursday, bringing to nearly one-third the number of major-league umps who will depart Sept. 2.

Joe West, famous for slamming pitcher Dennis Cook to the ground in 1990, and Eric Gregg, criticized for a wide strike zone in the 1997 playoffs, were among those let go, management officials said, speaking on the condition they not be identified.

Tom Hallion, suspended for three games earlier this month for bumping a player and coach, will be forced to leave, too, along with crew chiefs Frank Pulli and Terry Tata, who have each spent more than 25 years in the major leagues and worked four World Series apiece.

``These are some of the finest umpires in the history of this game,'' union head Richie Phillips said. ``Terry Tata has worked many, many important games. What they're saying is that an umpire who has never even worked a spring-training game in his life is more fit to umpire in the major leagues than Terry Tata. . . . I absolutely vow to fight to the death in this case, and I will never, ever rest until I right this wrong.''

Nine AL umpires were told Monday that their resignations had been accepted. That means 22 of the 68 major-league umpires are departing.

Also let go were Gary Darling, Bob Davidson, Bruce Dreckman, Bill Hohn, Sam Holbrook, Paul Nauert, Larry Poncino and Larry Vanover.

Ability, diversity and experience were among the factors used to make the decisions, several management officials said, all speaking on the condition they not be identified.

On July 14, the day following the All-Star game, most umpires resigned effective Sept. 2, thinking the tactic would force an early start to negotiations for a new labor contract. The current deal expires Dec. 31.

But the move backfired when more than a dozen umpires refused to resign and baseball hired 25 replacements from Triple-A, effective Sept. 1. The umpires let go sent a letter Tuesday withdrawing the resignations, but baseball said it was too late.

Boston lose closer: Tom Gordon got the doctor's opinion he didn't want to hear: The Boston Red Sox closer probably needs season-ending elbow surgery.

Gordon last pitched June 11, when he blew his second straight save opportunity. After a conversation with orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday, Gordon said his season could be over.

``The way Dr. Andrews talked to me, there's a pretty good chance I will have surgery,'' Gordon said.