Promotion Surprises Holtz

Mario Mendoza, manager for the Angels’ double-A team at Midland, Texas, was addressing his players after a game in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday night when he told them he had some good news.

“He came over and shook my hand and when he said I’d been called up to the big leagues, I just did a double take,” said reliever Mike Holtz, who joined the Angels in Seattle Thursday. “I thought maybe it was a prank. But then I thought, that would have been a pretty mean prank.”

Holtz, 1-2 with a 4.17 earned-run average in 33 appearances at Midland, replaced another left-handed reliever, Brad Pennington, who cleared waivers and was sent to triple-A Vancouver.

“This certainly wasn’t something I was counting on,” said Holtz, a 17th-round pick out of Clemson in 1994 who hasn’t thrown a triple-A pitch. “It’s easy to be overwhelmed here, but hopefully this is the beginning of my career.”

Holtz went 0-0 with a 0.51 ERA for Class-A Boise in 1994 and 4-4 with a 2.29 ERA at Class-A Lake Elsinore in 1995.

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Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Lee Thomas confirmed that he and Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi discussed a potential trade for left fielder Garret Anderson last week. Thomas indicated Bavasi was looking for “a good, young pitcher,” but said no specific Phillies were discussed. Curt Schilling, a 29-year-old right-hander with a $1 million salary, is believed to be the pitcher Philadelphia would consider trading. . . . Center fielder Jim Edmonds (sprained thumb) and third baseman Jack Howell (strained hamstring) worked out in Anaheim and will begin rehabilitation assignments at Lake Elsinore Saturday. No timetables have been set for their return.