Gruber Getting Used to Being an Angel : Baseball: The Blue Jays are in his past. Free agency might be part of his future.

Kelly Gruber stood in front of the array of cameras and reporters Thursday, carefully slipped an Angel jersey over his dress shirt, tugged a new cap over his eyebrows and posed for all of Southern California to see.

He loudly exhaled, broke into an expansive smile and, perhaps for the first time, finally realized he has been traded.

Kelly Wayne Gruber is property of the Angels, and as traumatic as the Dec. 7 trade might have been to his psyche, he understands it’s time to get used to the idea.

“There’s a certain amount of rejection when you’re traded,” Gruber said, “and the worst was going through my mind. I mean, it really didn’t register I was going to the California Angels. I couldn’t believe it was happening.

“I’m glad to be an Angel now, and I believe it’s going to be a good experience, but the day I was traded . . . that was pretty tough.”

Gruber refused comment when the trade was made, and until Thursday had avoided all reporters. Devastated? Who wouldn’t be?

Gruber was leaving behind the Toronto Blue Jays. He was leaving behind one World Series championship, four American League East division titles and his one-time status as a folk hero. He was leaving behind the fondest memories of his life.

Now, he wasn’t even going to be around for the championship ring ceremony on opening day.

“Kelly doesn’t say a whole lot, but it was tough for him,” said his mother, Gloria Gruber. “I remember him saying, ‘What did I do wrong? Why did they trade me? Why?’ ”

While the Blue Jays dumped Gruber, sending along $1.5 million and receiving only utility infielder Luis Sojo in return, the Angels are gushing over him as if he was the final piece to the pennant puzzle.

Apparently, it doesn’t matter that Gruber, 30, has two bulging disks in his neck and conceded Thursday that he is only 75% healthy. It’s not a concern that he is coming off his worst season in six years, batting only .229 with 11 homers and 43 runs batted in. The Angels don’t even mind paying $2.5 million of his $4-million salary.

“I think with Kelly, our infield defense will be as good as any in baseball,” said Manager Buck Rodgers, still giddy about playing golf Wednesday for the first time since the Angels’ May 21 bus crash. “He’s got the offensive skills, and you’ll see that this year.”

Gruber, who is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, contends that last season was an aberration. He sustained his neck injury the third week of the season, he said, but refused to publicly divulge the severity of the pain.

“It was very, frustrating,” Gruber said. “It was like a sword in my back the whole season. I couldn’t cough, sneeze, talk or breathe.

“I really couldn’t say anything, because if I did, I’d be making excuses.”