Stoneman Squelches Edmonds Rumors

Jim Edmonds isn’t going to New York, Seattle or Oakland. Or anywhere. At least, not any time soon. Tired of all the trade rumors swirling around his center fielder, Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman met with Edmonds over the weekend and told him he will remain an Angel.

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s going to be an Angel all season,” Stoneman said. “I wanted him to be comfortable. With all the [bull] that’s been written, I thought it was important to talk to him. I’ve said for a long time, and no one seems to believe me, that he’s going to be here.”

Stoneman had spoken to the Yankees and A’s last week about a trade for Edmonds, but New York wouldn’t part with pitcher Ramiro Mendoza or highly-coveted infielder Alfonso Soriano, and Oakland’s offer of pitcher Ron Mahay and pitching prospect Jesus Colome didn’t entice Stoneman.

Seattle, tired of waiting for Stoneman to decide what Mariner pitcher he wanted, has shifted its pursuit for a left-handed hitting outfielder to Detroit’s Bobby Higginson and Minnesota’s Matt Lawton.

Which leaves Edmonds in Anaheim, despite the fact the Angels have four outfielders and are in great need of starting pitching and that Edmonds will become a free agent after 2000.

“My concern is, this is a very talented player, and you don’t want a lot of nonsense getting in the way of him focusing on his job,” Stoneman said. “I just wanted to level with the guy, and he’s been great. To me, he’s shown a lot of class.

“Some people who were here in the past have said some uncomplimentary things about him, and the way he’s handled it has been absolutely great. For him not to respond to that stuff showed a lot of class.”

Stoneman was alluding to recent comments by former Angels Chuck Finley, Jim Leyritz and Randy Velarde that questioned Edmonds’ character. Asked about those Sunday, Edmonds said: “I have too much respect for the game than to rip someone like that.”

Whatever Stoneman told Edmonds, it seemed to help. Edmonds blasted a two-run home run to left-center and singled sharply to right in Sunday’s 16-3 Cactus League loss to the Chicago White Sox.

“He said he might make some changes, but he’s not going to get rid of me,” Edmonds said. “I never really thought I was going to leave. I approach every day as if I’m an Angel. I never tried to get an apartment in New York or worried about my house [in Orange County] . . . .

“I don’t think it needs to be a topic of conversation every day. I know the players are getting tired of hearing it.”

News of the Stoneman-Edmonds meeting was well-received in the Angel clubhouse.

“That dude can play center field and he can hit, and who knows what he’ll do without that umbrella of trade rumors hanging over his head,” closer Troy Percival said. “It’s hard to play for a team when you’re not sure if that team wants you, that has you on the trading block all the time.

“It takes a huge weight off you to be able to play for 25 guys in this room.”

Notes

Ken Hill has declined to speak to Los Angeles-area reporters this spring, letting his pitching do the talking. Sunday, his pitching would have had no comment. Hill, the staff ace, gave up six runs and nine hits, including two homers, in four innings against the White Sox and has now allowed 10 runs and 16 hits in his last seven spring innings. . . . Troy Percival had a very encouraging inning Sunday, giving up a single and striking out two in a scoreless sixth. His fastball hit 94 mph, he threw two very nice off-speed curves, and he looked a lot more comfortable mechanically than he did in his last outing. . . . The Angels have lost five consecutive exhibition games and have been outscored, 44-12, in the last four. . . . Benji Gil, who has played solid defense at shortstop all spring, appears to be the leading candidate for the utility infield job.