Angels’ Erick Aybar off to a strong start

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — Maybe it’s because he’s in a contract drive, or maybe he’s feeling a little heat from below, but Angels shortstop Erick Aybar is off to a strong start this spring.

Aybar had two hits, including a leadoff double in the first inning, and scored a run in the Angels’ 6-3 exhibition loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The leadoff batter has four hits in eight at-bats in three games.

Aybar, 28, will become a free agent after this season unless the Angels sign him to a long-term contract, but negotiations, which began in January, have not yielded an agreement.

Aybar, who hit .279 with 10 homers, 33 doubles, 59 runs batted in and won a Gold Glove Award last season, is believed to be seeking a deal similar to the four-year, $33.5-million contract second baseman Howie Kendrick recently signed.

“There’s nothing new,” Aybar said of contract talks. “I’m leaving that up to my agent. All I want to do is help the team win the World Series this year.”

The switch-hitter would be in a better position to do that if he improves from the right side. Aybar hit .308 against right-handed pitchers last season but .216 left-handers, which prompted Manager Mike Scioscia to use Peter Bourjos at leadoff against lefties.

“Last year, hitting from the right side didn’t go well for me,” said Aybar, whose double Friday came off Padres lefty Clayton Richard. “But I feel that’s going to be different this year.”

If Aybar departs after the season, the Angels could re-sign Maicer Izturis or another veteran on a short-term deal. But they could have an eventual long-term solution in Jean Segura, a power-hitting 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic who was slowed by a hamstring injury in 2011 but has been one of the team’s most impressive players in camp.

“We have some high-end kids who have come quickly in the last few years,” Scioscia said. “[Segura] will start at double A, but a good spring will put him on the periphery of our depth chart.”

Injury updates

Izturis is sidelined because of tightness in his legs, and reliever Bobby Cassevah has been slowed because of tightness in his throwing shoulder. Neither will play in games until early next week.

Top outfield prospect Mike Trout, who lost 10 pounds because of flu-like symptoms, won’t play in games until he regains some weight and strength.

Right-hander Jerome Williams, who entered as the leading candidate to win the fifth rotation spot, has not thrown off a mound since he suffered a left hamstring strain last week.

Scioscia said Williams would need to make at least four starts to build up enough endurance to pitch against the New York Yankees on April 15, the first day the Angels will need a fifth starter. That means Williams would need to return to the mound in Arizona by March 21.

Touching base

Slugger Kendrys Morales, sidelined for a year and a half because of a broken left ankle, ran on the infield dirt without touching the bases Friday and will repeat the workout Sunday.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

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