PHILLIPS SUSPENDED.

Byline: Ben Walker Associated Press 

Tony Phillips, facing a felony charge of cocaine possession, was suspended indefinitely by the Anaheim Angels on Monday.

Phillips has not played since being arrested at an Anaheim motel on Aug. 10. The Angels suspended the leadoff man after he turned down the team's request to go on the disabled list and take part in a drug rehabilitation program.

According to a baseball management source, the suspension was ordered by Michael Eisner, chief executive officer of the Angels' parent company, The Walt Disney Co.

``Even if I wanted to say anything, I couldn't say anything,'' Phillips said in the Angels' locker room after Monday night's 2-1 loss at Baltimore. ``I don't want to say anything right now.''

Angels general manager Bill Bavasi sent a letter to Phillips informing him of the suspension.

``As a result of your most recent conduct resulting in your arrest by the Anaheim Police Department on Aug. 10, and being charged with possession of cocaine, our club has offered you placement on the 15-day disabled list in order to participate in a drug rehabilitation program,'' Bavasi wrote in the letter, a copy of which was read to The Associated Press.

``We have made it clear to you in our conversations that if you accept this offer, you will be reinstated in good standing and with a clean slate to our ballclub's active roster, and that if you decline the offer, you will be suspended without pay.

``During our discussion this morning, you made it clear that you decline our offer, and therefore our ballclub is suspending you with pay, effective immediately,'' Bavasi wrote.

Despite the threat of suspending Phillips without pay, the Angels suspended him with pay.

A lawyer for the players' union, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said management's Player Relations Committee was informed late Monday that the union would file a grievance today.

Nicholas Zumas, baseball's arbitrator, was fired jointly by players and owners on July 30. Rather than hire a new arbitrator immediately, the union and the PRC most likely will pick an interim arbitrator to handle this case.

The union lawyer said he expected a hearing would be held within two or three days. In addition, the union may seek to compel the Angels to pay Phillips certain contractual bonuses - with one more plate appearance, for example, Phillips would reach 500 for the season and be owed an additional $100,000.

Phillips met with doctors in New York last week as part of his evaluation. He had worked out with the Angels after being arrested, but did not play.

Anaheim manager Terry Collins declined comment on the suspension. The Angels trail Seattle by one game in the AL West.

Phillips, acquired in a midseason trade with the Chicago White Sox, is batting .279 with 47 RBI and 77 walks.

Last Tuesday, the 38-year-old infielder was charged with felony possession of cocaine. Police allege he bought a small quantity of freebase cocaine.

A court appearance was scheduled for Sept. 18.

A day after Phillips was charged, the Angels traded for San Diego leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson.

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Photo: Angels outfielder Tony Phillips has been suspended indefinitely by Angels.

Associated Press