Salmon Has Nice Choice : Angels: Rookie of the year can sign for one year or more. Tanana signs minor league contract.

The Angels are expected to offer right fielder Tim Salmon a guaranteed contract that will keep him in the organization through 1997.

The Angels, who have had preliminary talks with Ted Updike, Salmon’s agent, are scheduled to submit their proposals in a Thursday meeting at Tempe, Ariz.

Salmon, who last season became the first Angel to win the American League’s rookie-of-the-year award, is expected to be able to choose from among three offers: a one-year deal for about $500,000, three years for about $4 million or four years for about $7 million.

“I’m very, very optimistic we can get this done,” Updike said. “We’re anxious to get to the table and to the same page.

“Tim has a very close relationship with the Angels, and we have an idea of what the long-term future holds between Tim and the Angels.”

While looking to their future, the Angels are also indulging in a bit of nostalgia, inviting 40-year-old pitcher Frank Tanana to camp. Tanana, the Angels’ first-round draft choice in 1971 who was traded away 13 years ago, signed a triple-A contract Tuesday and will report Saturday to spring training.

“It’s going to feel a little funny,” Tanana said. “I mean, outside of (coaches) Jimmy Reese and Bobby Knoop, everybody else is gone.

“But I’m glad for the opportunity. It was a case where you believe in yourself, but you’re just waiting to see if anybody else still does.”

Tanana, who was 7-17 last season with a 4.35 earned-run average while pitching for the New York Yankees and Mets, did not receive any major league offers during the winter.