Trade for Irabu Is Discussed

Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi met with San Diego Padre General Manager Kevin Towers Tuesday, and among the topics discussed was a potential trade involving Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu.

Major League Baseball’s executive council last week upheld a recommendation that the Padres retain Irabu’s rights indefinitely, but the Chiba Lotte Marines right-hander said he will not play in San Diego.

Any deal for Irabu would have to be approved by Chiba Lotte, and the team trading for Irabu would have to strike a deal with Irabu’s agent, Don Nomura.

There have been reports in New York that the Yankees have offered Irabu a deal in the $12 million to $20 million range, and the Padres are believed to be offering about $5 million for two years. The Mariners and Orioles also are reportedly interested.

If they can’t sign him, the Padres would like to get something for him, and the Angels have what the Padres apparently want: an elite left-handed pitching prospect and a left-handed reliever who could help immediately.

Among the top pitchers in the Angel farm system are left-handers Matt Perisho and Jarrod Washburn, and the Angels have two quality left-handed relievers in Chuck McElroy and Mike Holtz.

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Third baseman Dave Hollins has an infection on his big toe after fouling a ball off his left foot Monday and will be out another day or two. Third baseman George Arias couldn’t play Tuesday because of conjunctivitis.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the bus that was supposed to take the Angels to Peoria got stuck in some soft tar in the Tempe Diablo Stadium parking lot Tuesday morning, and another bus had to be summoned. The Angels arrived in Peoria 15 minutes late and were unable to take infield practice.

“We told Mick [Billmeyer, Angel bullpen catcher] we were going to stick him under the tires to get some traction,” Angel Manager Terry Collins said.

Things got worse in Peoria, where the Angels gave up 17 hits, committed two errors and got hammered by the Padres, who were led by Rickey Henderson’s three hits, including a homer, and four runs batted in. The Angels are 0-5 in Cactus League play, they’ve given up 84 hits and have been outscored, 59-25.

“It’s not a major issue now, but in the last two weeks of spring we’ve got to win some games, so we can go into the season with some confidence,” Collins said.

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X-rays on Jim Edmonds’ injured left foot were inconclusive, and he is expected to return for today’s game against Oakland. . . . Chuck Finley threw in the bullpen Tuesday, will pitch a simulated game Thursday and is on schedule to make his spring debut this weekend. . . . Jason Dickson, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, gave up two runs in the first inning Tuesday, but looked good in a scoreless second and third. . . . . . . Mark Langston, Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Dennis Springer are scheduled to throw three innings each today against the A’s.