Options Running Out for Edmonds

Angel center fielder Jim Edmonds has no desire to play in Seattle, and it appears he may never have to. The Mariners, according to several baseball sources, are on the verge of trading pitcher John Halama to Detroit for outfielder Bobby Higginson.

A Mariner source said Seattle “has nothing going on with the Angels right now,” so the options for Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman--if he wants to deal Edmonds--appear to have been reduced to the Yankees and Athletics.

The Angels need starting pitching, but the Yankees are unwilling to deal Ramiro Mendoza. Though Yankee pitching prospect Ryan Bradley told friends in California he expected to be traded to the Angels along with second base prospect Alfonso Soriano, a Yankee source said he believes they can trade for Edmonds without giving up a pitcher.

Soriano appears to be the key to any deal. The power-hitting infielder could fill a void for the Angels, but Yankee executives appear split on trading him.

Also there has been no indication that the Yankees, who would like to sign Edmonds to a contract extension before trading for him, have been given an opportunity to negotiate with agent Paul Cohen.

Furthermore, after Yankee owner George Steinbrenner met with top executives to discuss the team Thursday night, Manager Joe Torre told New York writers, “I think we’re fine the way we are.”

The A’s and Angels talked trade over the winter, but then pitcher Brett Laxton was traded to Kansas City, and after watching Mario Encarnacion this spring, the A’s have decided to take him off the table.

Their offer for Edmonds now is pitcher Ron Mahay, who is battling Mark Mulder for the fifth spot in the rotation, and pitcher Jesus Colome, whose fastball has been clocked at 100 mph, but they probably won’t be enough to satisfy Stoneman.

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Recuperating pitchers Ramon Ortiz and Jarrod Washburn tossed a ball for about seven minutes Friday under the watchful eyes of Manager Mike Scioscia, pitching coach Bud Black and trainer Ned Bergert.

Ortiz, a lock to make the team if his sore shoulder heals, said he felt “very good,” and the next step for the right-hander will be to throw off the mound in the bullpen.

Because of an early day off, the Angels won’t need a fifth starter until April 12, so if Ortiz can pitch, he will have 3 1/2 weeks to build up endurance. But the Angels will proceed cautiously with Ortiz, their top prospect.

“I think there will be a lot of warning signs if he can’t pitch,” Scioscia said. “He’s not going to be able to mask it if he doesn’t feel good.”

Washburn, with a strained chest muscle, felt a little stiff and said he’s “not close to getting back on the mound.” A similar injury sidelined Washburn for seven weeks last season.

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Two top outfield prospects are probably out for the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Jeff DaVanon and Mike Colangelo had shoulder problems repaired. . . . Todd Greene, whose time behind the plate has been limited because of shoulder problems the last two years, has not caught since March 9 because of shoulder discomfort. He has been working with Scioscia to correct some mechanical flaws. . . . The Angels managed only six hits in an 8-3 Cactus League loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.