BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Borders Is Third Catcher

Looking for depth at catcher, the Angels acquired veteran Pat Borders from the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league pitcher Ben VanRyn.

The Angels had thrown out only 18 of 88 base-stealers before Saturday’s game.

The addition of Borders does not necessarily mean either Jorge Fabregas or Don Slaught will be the odd man out, however.

Borders, World Series MVP in 1992 with Toronto, is expected to join the club Monday, and the Angels have until then to clear a spot for him on the roster.

“Right now, we’re leaning toward keeping three catchers,” General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “But we’re not dead set on that. I can’t be more specific than that. We think he can give us depth. [Angel scouts] saw him enough to be real comfortable in recommending him.”

Borders played in four American League championship series and two World Series for Toronto. He batted .450 with one homer and six runs batted in in the ’92 World Series.

He played in only 26 games for the Cardinals this season and was designated for assignment on Thursday.

“He’s going to be helpful to the Angels because he’s [experienced],” Toronto Manager Cito Gaston said. “He’s not going to be a guy standing around the locker room chatting about it, but the way he plays the game is a great example. He didn’t have the greatest arm in the world, but he got rid of the ball real quick and that seemed to make up for it.”

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Left-handed reliever Chuck McElroy has performed just as hoped.

He is 3-0 with a 1.93 earned-run average in nine appearances (9 1/3 innings) since leaving Cincinnati and joining the Angels in the trade May 27 for Lee Smith.

“We’ve been inconsistent in that area [middle relief],” Manager Marcel Lachemann said.

“[Mark] Holzemer has some good games, but we’ve been inconsistent. Chuck has been a big plus, been very consistent.”

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Third baseman Jack Howell left the game after injuring his right calf and hamstring while batting in the second inning. Tim Wallach replaced him.

“He’s got real good,” Lachemann said. “He kind of got stuck in the box. It doesn’t look good [as far as playing today].”

Officially, Howell’s status is day to day.