Blue Jays Provide Fuel for Angels’ Pursuit of Clemens

The Angels’ hopes of trading for Toronto ace Roger Clemens received two significant boosts Thursday, but the Houston Astros still appear to be the leading candidates to acquire the five-time Cy Young Award winner.

According to a Blue Jay source, Toronto General Manager Gord Ash is willing to accept an Angel package that includes coveted center fielder Jim Edmonds, even though Edmonds would have the contractual right to demand a trade after one season in Toronto.

In addition, when Ash was asked during a conference call whether Clemens had ruled out pitching on the West Coast, Ash replied: “No.”

Clemens said he wants to pitch near his Houston home and/or for a contender, and Angel players have been under the impression he didn’t want to come to California.

But new Angel first baseman Mo Vaughn, a former Boston Red Sox teammate and a close friend of Clemens, has been lobbying hard for Clemens to consider Anaheim.

Vaughn, according to the source, is also pressing Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi to step up efforts to trade for the right-hander.

Though Edmonds would make any Angel package for Clemens more attractive, the source said that the Angels’ initial offer for Clemens--Edmonds, pitcher Jason Dickson and third baseman Dave Hollins--was rejected.

The Angels probably would jump to the head of the pack if they were willing to replace Hollins in the deal with Troy Glaus, their up-and-coming, power-hitting third baseman, but when asked if the Angels would be willing to part with Glaus, Manager Terry Collins said, “I don’t think so.”

Ash said five teams remain in contention for Clemens, and they are believed to be the Astros, Rangers, Yankees, Indians and Angels. “No question, we’re shooting high,” Ash said of Clemens’ price tag, “and I’m not apologizing, because we’re dealing one of the best pitchers in the game.”

One baseball source said the Astros have offered outfielder Derek Bell, reliever Jay Powell and a left-handed pitcher, either Mike Hampton or C.J. Nitkowski, for Clemens, but an Astro source said that offer “was a little too much.”

The Indians are believed to be offering first baseman/designated hitter Richie Sexson, power-hitting third-base prospect Russell Branyan and a pitcher, either Dave Burba or reliever Paul Shuey.

The price for Clemens is not limited to premium players and prospects. Clemens is due to make $11.35 million in base salary over the next two years but is owed $5 million in bonus payments, a sum the Blue Jays would like Clemens’ next employer to pay.

Clemens, who asked to be traded Dec. 2, also wants to renegotiate his contract with the team that trades for him, and he is expected to command a salary in the $13-million-a-year range.

The Angels, meanwhile, are also pursuing free-agent pitcher Kevin Brown, and they are one of four teams, along with Boston, St. Louis and Seattle, who have shown the most interest in free-agent right-hander Tim Belcher, who is seeking a three-year deal.