Edmonds Remains an Angel for Now

The Angels and Oakland Athletics have reached an impasse in negotiations for a proposed trade that would send center fielder Jim Edmonds to the A’s, but money is not an issue.

Oakland has approved an increase in its 2000 budget to accommodate Edmonds’ $4.65-million salary, but the A’s, according to sources, refuse to part with all three minor leaguers the Angels have requested--pitcher Brett Laxton, who would challenge for an Angel rotation spot next season; outfielder Mario Encarnacion, who may be Oakland’s top position-playing prospect, and Jesus Colome, a 19-year-old Dominican whose fastball has hit 100 mph on speed guns.

The A’s further entrenched themselves after Wednesday’s deal that sent Houston outfielder Carl Everett, who is comparable to Edmonds in many ways and can also be a free agent after 2000, to Boston for highly touted shortstop prospect Adam Everett and minor league pitcher Greg Miller.

A’s General Manager Billy Beane wouldn’t comment about trade talks with Anaheim. Beane became even more reluctant to part with three of the top 10 prospects from an organization ranked baseball’s best by Baseball America after Everett cost the Red Sox one premium prospect and one fringe prospect, a source familiar with Beane said.

Furthermore, the Red Sox are confident they can sign Everett, who hit .325 with 25 homers and 108 RBIs last season, to a long-term contract; the A’s, whose ownership is uncertain, do not have a good feeling for whether they’d be able to afford Edmonds beyond 2000.

The deal is not dead, but it has become clear the Angels will have to lower their sights to complete it. The A’s, according to sources, would part with any two of the players the Angels want, but not all three. A three-for-one trade is still possible, but a lesser prospect--or deposed A’s second baseman Scott Spiezio--would have to be substituted for one of the minor leaguers.

Among the other players being considered on Oakland’s end are triple-A shortstop Jose Ortiz and Class-A pitcher Donato Calandriello, a hard-throwing left-hander who went 4-1 with a 3.56 earned-run average for Modesto last season.

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Visions of pitching in the postseason danced through Chuck Finley’s head during Thursday’s news conference to announce his signing a three-year, $27-million contract with the Cleveland Indians.

“I dream every night about pitching in the playoffs and getting a chance to go to the World Series,” the former Angel left-hander said. “I couldn’t have found a better situation than here in Cleveland. It’s a perfect fit for me.”

Finley, who went 165-140 during a 14-year Angel career, agreed to defer $7 million of his contract without interest. He’ll receive an $11-million signing bonus, $2 million of which is payable now, $2 million in 2002 and the rest in $2.3-million installments from 2003-2005. His annual salaries will be $5 million, $6 million and $5 million.