Guerrero no fan of Scioscia’s DH plan

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A question about spending more time at designated hitter hadn’t even been interpreted to English when slugger Vladimir Guerrero began shaking his head firmly.

“No, no DH,” Guerrero said Tuesday, before switching to Spanish.

“I’m a right fielder,” he said through first base coach Alfredo Griffin, who was interpreting. “I’ve got to wait until the season starts, see how my body responds, then we can decide what’s best for me.”

With numerous injuries having slowed Guerrero in recent seasons, especially in September and October, the Angels figured more time at designated hitter would be best for the 32-year-old, who in 16 playoff games with the Angels has a .183 average (11 for 60), one home run and seven runs batted in, four on a 2004 division series grand slam.

That’s one reason they signed center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year, $90-million deal, so ousted center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., oft-injured left fielder Garret Anderson and Guerrero could rotate through the corner outfield and DH spots, keeping them fresh deeper into the season.

But a day before the team’s first full-squad workout, Guerrero balked at Manager Mike Scioscia’s four-man rotation plan, and Anderson didn’t seem real enthused.

“Until I talk to him, I can’t say I’m on board with anything,” Anderson said. “I’m not saying I’m not on board, but . . . I haven’t heard it from him yet, so until that conversation takes place, my mind-set is to come and play left field.”

With closer Francisco Rodriguez in a contract dispute, could the Angels’ clubhouse be filling with unhappy campers?

“We’ll work through it -- it’s not going to be a negative,” Scioscia said. “Those four bats have to be in the lineup, and [the DH spot] is going to be a tool to rest some guys. In talking to Vlad, it’s not going to be a six- or seven-days-a-week DH thing.

“But there are definitely times when a DH day would have done him good. We’re going to have that option now. If he comes in and his legs are a little stiff, he’s still going to get his at-bats. Nobody’s talking about an everyday DH position with him.”

An inflamed right triceps reduced Guerrero to a full-time DH last September, and Guerrero said Tuesday that the elbow is “still a little sore,” which could limit him early in camp.

Guerrero hit .324 with 27 homers and 125 runs batted in but .270 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 159 at-bats as a DH.

A hip injury in 2007 limited Anderson to 108 games and 417 at-bats. He hit .297, but .208 in 72 at-bats as a DH.

Scioscia doesn’t believe the players’ struggles at DH have anything to do with their disdain for the spot.

“These guys have had to DH when they’ve been banged up,” Scioscia said, “That has affected their production, not the fact they were at DH.”

Injuries probably will dictate who spends the most time at DH, and with Matthews still recovering from a knee injury, the Angels may wish they had more than one DH spot.

The outfield logjam is reminiscent of 1999, when the Angels had Anderson, Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds and Darin Erstad. Edmonds got hurt early, played in only 55 games and was traded before 2000.

“In this game, things always work themselves out,” Anderson said. “Obviously, there will be a resolution, one way or another.”

Casey Kotchman reported Tuesday, looking a whole lot better than he did at the end of 2007. The first baseman missed the final game of the season because of food poisoning, watching the Boston Red Sox complete their division series sweep of the Angels from an Anaheim hospital bed.

“That was awkward, to say the least, being right down the street and not being able to get out of bed when your teammates are playing a playoff game,” Kotchman said. “That was one of the more difficult things I’ve ever done.”

Rodriguez will miss workouts today and Thursday to travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., for Thursday’s arbitration hearing. The reliever will rejoin the team Friday.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com