Moreno Downplays Johnson Talk

Angel owner Arte Moreno all but pulled his team out of the Randy Johnson derby Tuesday, expressing admiration for the five-time Cy Young Award winner but pledging to keep the core of his minor league system intact.

General Manager Bill Stoneman has long insisted that he would not trade his top prospects. Moreno, in his first full season of ownership after a winter in which he spent $146 million on free agents, said he would not order Stoneman to pursue Johnson, the ace of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ staff.

“I won’t do that,” Moreno said. “That’s not the way we’ll do business. That won’t come from me.”

Johnson said Monday that he would consider waiving his no-trade clause to join a World Series contender, with the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs among the suitors. The Dodgers are talking trade with Arizona, but not necessarily for Johnson.

Moreno called the 40-year-old Johnson “a Hall of Fame pitcher and a tremendous pitcher, still,” but trading for him this season would add $16 million to the Angels’ player payroll next season. Moreno plans to lower the payroll from $108 million this year to between $90 million and $100 million next year.

Although Johnson would better the Angels’ chances of winning this season, Moreno said he did not want to wreck Stoneman’s plan to replenish the roster affordably by trading prospects who could become everyday players soon.

In exchange for Johnson, the Diamondbacks are believed to have asked the Angels for at least two of their top three prospects -- third baseman Dallas McPherson, first baseman Casey Kotchman and catcher Jeff Mathis.

“One of my commitments is that we are going to build a championship team long-term,” Moreno said. “I don’t think the right way to do that is to give up part of our minor league system.”

The Angels do not appear to have surplus major league talent overwhelming enough to persuade the Diamondbacks to trade their franchise player. Reliever Scot Shields is attractive, but reserve outfielder Jeff DaVanon is eligible for salary arbitration next year, and disgruntled reliever Ramon Ortiz carries a $5.5-million option.

Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta declined to comment specifically on Johnson but said events of the last 48 hours had not affected his conversations with Arizona General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr.

“No, not specifically,” DePodesta said Tuesday. “I have talked to him recently, but that puts him in a group of about 15 to 20 GMs. I’ve been talking to Joe for a few weeks.”

The Diamondbacks, with the worst record in the major leagues, are uncertain about trading Johnson but are interested in trading other veterans, including infielders Roberto Alomar and Shea Hillenbrand and outfielders Danny Bautista and Steve Finley.

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Moreno and Texas Ranger owner Tom Hicks each has a residence in La Jolla, so Hicks invited Moreno over for lunch last week. Hicks said no wagers were placed on the outcome of the American League West race, in which the Rangers lead the Angels by 2 1/2 games.

Moreno has fared no better than Hicks in signing a free-agent ace, at least so far. Chan Ho Park has won 12 games -- with a 6.00 earned-run average -- in three years since signing a five-year, $65-million contract with the Rangers. Bartolo Colon, signed by Moreno last winter for four years and $51 million, is 6-8 with a 6.38 ERA, worst of any major league starter.

“It’s the most difficult thing to do -- make a bet for a veteran pitcher with a long-term contract,” Hicks said. “We’ve had our disappointments. He has his challenges.”

Said Moreno: “Historically, Colon has been a big-time pitcher who throws a lot of innings. We believe he’s healthy, and we hope he has a great second half.”

The Angels wanted to sign a pitcher and outfielder last winter. Moreno paid for two of each -- Colon and fellow starter Kelvim Escobar and outfielders Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen.

“We have a championship team,” Moreno said. “I felt, my people felt, we were two players away from being able to compete again. We’ll try to do the very best we can.”

During Moreno’s winter spending spree, Hicks jettisoned superstar infielder Alex Rodriguez -- he of the record $252-million contract -- and slashed the Texas payroll almost in half, to $55 million.

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