BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : Edmonds Still Has Hot Bat

Center fielder Jim Edmonds said last week he was “frustrated” that negotiations between his agent and the Angels for a multiyear contract were lagging and that off-the-field issues were becoming a distraction.

But at this rate, the Angels might want to drag contract talks with Edmonds into September. All Edmonds has done amid the uncertainty is reach base 13 of 17 times (.765) and go seven for 11 (.636) in five Cactus League games.

Edmonds had two of his team’s 17 hits Wednesday in a 15-4 Tempe Diablo Stadium exhibition rout of the Chicago Cubs, helping the Angels (6-0-1) remain unbeaten.

“I have to stay on my toes,” Edmonds said, “because I might have to go to arbitration after this season.”

That’s not likely. Edmonds’ agent, Paul Cohen, met with Angel executives in Tempe, and the sides are putting the finishing touches on a deal that is expected to guarantee Edmonds between $8 million and $10 million for the next four years.

Cohen also hopes to complete a four-year, $4-million deal for reliever Troy Percival this week.

The Angels have come to terms with first baseman J.T. Snow on a three-year deal, which would pay between $5 million and $6 million, but are awaiting ownership approval to announce it. An option for a fourth year could push the Snow deal into the $8-million range.

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Rex Hudler, Garret Anderson, Chris Turner and P.J. Forbes each added two hits Wednesday, and Hudler, Tim Salmon and George Arias homered. Jason Grimsley, a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, gave up one run and four hits in three innings to gain the victory.

The Angels are batting .327 and averaging 8.3 runs and 12 hits a game.