Front Office Keeps the Roster Intact

If the Angels are to contend for a wild-card spot, it will be with the current crop of underachieving hitters, a group that ranks 13th in the American League in runs and has had trouble sustaining momentum on offense.

That was virtually assured when Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline passed with the Angels making no moves, a flurry of inactivity that General Manager Bill Stoneman, ever the optimist, claimed should be perceived as a vote of confidence in his club.

“The message is clear--that we believe in our club,” Stoneman said. “We’ve got some very good players who have played below expectations, and we believe they’re going to pick it up. This is a club that’s going to get better from within.”

Oakland vaulted into playoff contention in July, but that didn’t stop the A’s from trading for Royal slugger Jermaine Dye, a move Angel center fielder Darin Erstad said would have a positive impact on the A’s clubhouse.

Playoff contenders Boston and Minnesota made moves, the Red Sox trading for Montreal reliever Ugueth Urbina and the Twins dealing for Met pitcher Rick Reed and Tiger reliever Todd Jones. But Stoneman said players shouldn’t look to the front office for relief.

“If a player is expecting the club to turn things around, he’s saying he doesn’t trust his own ability to get it done or the players around him to get it done,” Stoneman said. “What I’m saying is I trust their abilities.”

Stoneman said the pace and volume of trade talks intensified as Tuesday’s 1 p.m. deadline neared, and at one point it “looked like we had a chance to get something done.” According to a baseball source, the deal involved sending reliever Mike Holtz to the Atlanta Braves.

Several teams, including the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Red Sox, were interested in closer Troy Percival, but the Angels never got close to trading him. There wasn’t much interest in veteran pitchers Ismael Valdes and Pat Rapp, and Stoneman did not want to deal young starters Jarrod Washburn, Scott Schoeneweis or Ramon Ortiz.

“I think this is a good sign,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Everyone would love to see someone walk into the clubhouse who could help us, but we don’t want to fill a hole and create another hole. The biggest change in our club will be the production of certain guys, and if you look down the road, the return of [the injured] Mo [Vaughn] next year.”

Hindering Stoneman’s ability to bolster the Angels is a farm system that remains extremely thin despite the team’s proclamations it has made considerable strides in the past year.

Percival, who has 28 saves in 30 opportunities, was relieved to see the trade deadline pass.

“That’s the first time my name has been in trade rumors,” he said. “It’s hard to think you’re not on the mound auditioning for some other club. Now that the deadline has passed, it’s nice knowing that’s not in my mind. I know I’m going to be here, and I can be dedicated to one team.”

TODAY

ANGELS’

SCOTT

SCHOENEWEIS

(7-8, 4.94 ERA)

vs.

RED SOX’S

HIDEO NOMO

(11-4, 3.86 ERA)

Fenway Park, Boston, 4 p.m. PDT

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--Schoeneweis does not have fond memories of Fenway Park. The Angel left-hander was one out away from a complete-game victory last Aug. 21 before giving up a two-run homer to Brian Daubach in the bottom of the ninth. The Red Sox went on to win, 7-6, in extra innings. Nomo, the former Dodger pitcher, has been one of baseball’s biggest surprises this season, ranking seventh in the league in victories and third in strikeouts (139).