Angels’ Albert Pujols plays first base to gauge readiness for regular season

Albert Pujols played first base Monday for the first time this spring.

He had practiced at the position for a month and the Angels are trying to determine how much he can do at the start of the regular season.

“He feels strong enough,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s been taking ground balls the whole time. I think it’s good to get a read on him now, see where he is by the weekend and see if he has any negatives. This is something that we both feel strongly about, to see what the prospects are for him getting on the field.”

Pujols, 36, underwent surgery in November to alleviate pain in the plantar plate of his right foot. That pain prevented him from playing first base the final month of last season.

In his career, Pujols has been a far superior defender to the Angels’ alternative at first base, C.J. Cron. But Cron has improved and the team must decide whether the upgrade Pujols brings is worth the additional stress it will put on his body.

If he cannot play first base, Pujols will be the designated hitter.

“We’re not gonna put anything to risk what he’s doing in the batter’s box right now, because he feels really strong and comfortable,” Scioscia said.

Pujols said this spring that he would not need much time at first base to be ready to play there come opening day. However, as he has aged, he has become more accepting of being the designated hitter.

One ground ball was hit to Pujols in his five innings in the field. He fielded it cleanly and jogged to first base to record the out. He also jumped once to catch a medium-paced line drive hit his way.

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Pedro Moura and Lindsey Thiry explain what to watch for as the Angels break camp. Opening Day is April 4. 

Pujols and several Angels regulars returned to Anaheim after Monday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. They will work out Tuesday at Angel Stadium and take Wednesday off before beginning the Freeway Series on Thursday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Pujols is likely to play first base at least once during the series.

Cut day

The Angels optioned right-hander Nick Tropeano to minor league camp after he started Monday’s game, confirming their plans to give the final rotation spot to right-hander Matt Shoemaker.

Neither pitcher performed particularly well this spring, but Shoemaker is four years older and more experienced. Tropeano’s demotion also guarantees veteran Jered Weaver will make a start in the first turn of the Angels’ rotation.

In other roster moves, the Angels reassigned infielder Gregorio Petit, left-hander Lucas Luetge and right-handers A.J. Achter and Javy Guerra to minor league camp, trimming their roster to 33. They must make eight more cuts by Sunday’s 9 a.m. deadline.

Short hops

Baseball America reported that the Angels spent $660,000 to sign international prospects in 2015, the least of any team. The Dodgers spent $45.38 million in the international market. Because of their past spending, the Angels could not sign a player for more than $300,000 after July 2, but other teams with the same restrictions spent more than twice as much.

The Angels re-signed right-hander Deolis Guerra to a minor league deal after the burly 26-year-old reliever cleared waivers over the weekend and elected free agency. The team first obtained him in the Rule 5 draft in December.

Left-hander C.J. Wilson will “get his strength evaluated” over the weekend, Scioscia said, as the Angels try to assess his readiness to return to pitching. He has not thrown off a mound in more than a month because of shoulder tendinitis.

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura