BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Owen to Test Shoulder in Class-A Ball

Infielder Spike Owen will probably join Class-A Lake Elsinore for three games this weekend to test his injured left shoulder in game conditions.

Owen, on the disabled list with a torn labrum since July 7, has improved better than hoped. Surgery to repair the injury is still a possibility, although Owen hopes it can be put off until after the season.

He has been taking batting practice and fielding grounders. He will throw today and if all goes well, join Lake Elsinore on Friday.

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General Manager Bill Bavasi said the Angel organization is “being ogled” by teams interested in dealing them a pitcher.

But he can’t--or won’t--say what it will take to acquire a quality pitcher or when it might happen. He’s also not sure he’ll be able to make a deal.

“I’m comfortable with what we have to offer,” he said. “Other clubs have to finish their shopping. I really, honest to God, don’t know where we stand. [But] we’re being very, very aggressive.”

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Top draft pick Darin Erstad could sign by Friday, if not sooner. The Angels’ last offer is $1.5 million and it’s believed it will take $1.6 million for Erstad to sign. “I feel like we’re moving in the right direction,” said Jeff Moorad, Erstad’s agent. “At this point the ball is in their court.”

Bavasi said the Angels took Erstad’s threat to return to the Nebraska football team seriously. “I don’t think it was a threat,” Bavasi said. “It was an option for him. It was like, ‘If I’m not satisfied [with the offer], I might go back.’ ”

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The Angels signed free-agent second baseman Jose Lind to a minor-league contract. He reported to triple-A Vancouver Monday.

“It has something to do with Owen getting hurt and it’s a little bit of a wake-up call,” Bavasi said referring to the ongoing struggles of Damion Easley, sharing the second base job with Rex Hudler.

Lind, 31, last played for the Kansas City Royals May 31. He was released July 13 after batting .268 in 29 games.

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Reliever Bob Patterson, one of only two left-handers in the bullpen, was listed as “probable” Monday. Patterson, 5-2 with a 1.87 ERA, sprained his left ankle while jogging near his home Saturday morning. . . . Tony Tavares, president of Disney Sports, and Jackie Autry were seen sitting together in the owner’s box.