BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Talks Continue With Esasky

The Angels spoke with the agent of Nick Esasky as they continue to express interest in signing the first baseman.

“The simple truth is, he’s not sure he’s going to play (at all the rest of the season),” said Dan O’Brien, senior vice president for baseball operations.

Esasky, 32, who has suffered from vertigo and hasn’t played in the major leagues in more than two years, was released by Atlanta on July 17.

He batted .278 with six doubles and five home runs in 30 games for triple-A Richmond in a comeback attempt.

Lee Stevens, slated to be the Angels’ first baseman this year, has lost the starting job and is batting .198.

Once last in the majors in team batting average, the Angels have hit .302 over the past 11 games, raising their average from .239 to .246. They have averaged five runs a game in that stretch, and won eight of 11 games. . . . Reliever Bryan Harvey, on the disabled list since July 1 because of a strained right elbow, is scheduled to throw off the mound again today after a similar outing Wednesday. . . . Luis Polonia, who aggravated his already sore left hand on Tuesday, was out of the lineup for a second consecutive night, though interim Manager John Wathan said Polonia might be available to pinch-hit.