Club Has Other Options if Bootcheck Doesn’t Sign

The Angels remain hopeful of signing first-round pick Chris Bootcheck, the college pitcher who is yet to attend classes at Auburn or commit to the Angels this week.

But the team, which has offered the 6-foot-5 right-hander a $1.6-million bonus, has begun working on contingency plans if Bootcheck, the 20th pick in the June draft, does not sign.

Angel scouting director Donny Rowland will travel to Tampa, Fla., this morning to attend an open workout featuring two highly regarded youngsters from the Dominican Republic, an infielder and an outfielder.

Rowland and Angel scouts also have arranged a private workout with another Dominican outfielder-third baseman this afternoon in the Tampa area.

“We’re hopeful Bootcheck will sign with us, but we don’t have control over that,” Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman said. “Knowing that, and knowing what our options are, we’re now investigating those options. The alternatives for the club are good.”

Classes began at Auburn Tuesday and Bootcheck has enrolled for his senior year, but the Angels won’t lose their rights to him until he sets foot in a classroom. As of Wednesday night, Bootcheck hadn’t given the Angels a deadline.

If Bootcheck turns down the Angels, the team could take the money it had earmarked for him and invest it in Latin American players, such as the ones they are scouting this week.

The Angels also would receive a sandwich pick--an extra pick between the first and second rounds of next year’s draft--as compensation should they lose their rights to Bootcheck.

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Closer Troy Percival, who was not very sharp when he gave up one run, one hit and a walk in a minor league rehabilitation appearance Tuesday night, will throw another inning for Class-A Lake Elsinore tonight. It’s possible Percival will be activated for Friday night’s game against Cleveland.

Scott Karl, acquired in a minor league deal from the Colorado Rockies Tuesday, will start for Lake Elsinore tonight, and the left-hander likely will join the Angel rotation for Tuesday night’s game against Toronto.

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Left fielder Darin Erstad, sidelined since Saturday because of a spasms in his left side, took batting practice for the first time Wednesday and is confident he will be able to return to the lineup Friday night.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Erstad, who was able to sprint at full speed Tuesday, was available to pinch-run or play defense Wednesday night.

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Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, struggling with four hits in his last 26 at-bats, did not start Wednesday night because of a left hamstring injury. . . . When reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa gave up the winning two-run single in the 11th inning Monday night, it snapped a string of 30 2/3 consecutive innings in which the right-hander had not given up an earned run.