Edmonds’ Trade to Oakland on Hold

The Angels and Oakland Athletics have reached an impasse in negotiations for a trade that would send Angel 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, but a source said 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.

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 feel for whether they’d be able to afford Edmonds beyond 2000.

While the deal is not dead, 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.

Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman must decide whether two premium prospects is fair value for a two-time Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder or whether to continue to shop Edmonds. The Mets and Indians have both inquired about Edmonds, but those talks seem more exploratory, not serious, at this point.