BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Felix Says He Wants to Be Traded

Claiming he has been unfairly criticized for several recent mistakes on the basepaths, center fielder Junior Felix said Tuesday he wants to be traded by the Angels.

Felix was doubled off first base during the eighth inning Monday after a pop up by Von Hayes, even though second baseman Harold Reynolds overthrew the ball and had to be backed up by pitcher Erik Hanson. In the last month, Felix has twice been fined by interim Manager John Wathan for not sliding into second base, and Wathan said Tuesday his patience has worn so thin that he is been tempted to take Felix out of the lineup. Felix took a .260 average into Tuesday’s game, in addition to a team-leading 49 RBIs.

“A lot of guys are doing that (committing mistakes), but I don’t know why I’m special,” Felix said. “I don’t know why everybody makes a big deal. I guess next year I’m not going to be here. I’ll be on another team. I hope so.”

Are the Angels making a cursory effort to sign Jim Abbott so they can later justify trading him by saying they couldn’t sign him?

Dan O’Brien, senior vice president, said that it was the club’s idea to resume negotiations, which were ended during spring training, with the explanation that the team’s projected financial losses precluded assuming another long-term contract. O’Brien said he had a brief conversation with Abbott’s agent, Scott Boras, but no arrangements were made for follow-up talks.

Abbott said he preferred not to discuss his future.

Abbott, on the disabled list because of a pulled rib-cage muscle, tossed lightly Tuesday and was encouraged by how well the exercise went. . . . Luis Polonia said that his bruised left hand felt worse Tuesday. Polonia has been limited to designated hitter duty since the All-Star break.