Baseball

Angel starter Joe Magrane, who underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery last week, began working out Thursday and could start throwing lightly within two weeks.

Magrane, whose surgery prompted the Angels to sign Frank Tanana to a triple-A contract Tuesday, said the inflammation in his elbow is completely gone. He is optimistic that he’ll be able to rejoin the Angel rotation by the end of April.

“We’ve heard good things,” Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said, “and we’re very, very encouraged.”

Although the Angels protected themselves by signing Tanana, the risk is minimal. Tanana will earn a base salary of $300,000, and will be paid $38,000 for every game he starts beginning with his seventh. Magrane does not expect to miss more than four starts.