Team Gets a Break on Vaughn’s Contract

Insurance will cover $5.13 million of Mo Vaughn’s $11-million contract, a saving Angel President Tony Tavares said could allow the team to add payroll with a trade-deadline deal if it is in contention this summer.

But what the Angels save because of Vaughn’s season-ending elbow surgery could be consumed by Jose Canseco, Ismael Valdes and Wally Joyner, who have the potential to earn a combined $9.2 million in incentives.

And though the Angels’ 2001 payroll is about $37.5 million in base salaries--well below last year’s $58 million--the team still seems hesitant to pursue high-priced players through free agency or trades.

“I never say never, but we’d have to be on the cusp of being a championship club to do something like that,” said Tavares, who watched Tuesday’s 5-5, 11-inning Cactus League tie against the San Francisco Giants.

“What you end up doing is trading prospects for guys who are about to become free agents. We have to stay the course until we’re close enough to make that kind of move.”

That course is to lock up core players to long-term contracts and build from within. Tavares intimated the Angels are close to signing outfielders Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad to multiyear extensions, and he praised scouting director Donny Rowland for bolstering the farm system with what many considered an excellent 2000 draft.

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Manager Mike Scioscia hasn’t made the decision, but it appears the Angels have aligned their rotation so Jarrod Washburn will be the opening-day starter against the Texas Rangers on April 3.

Pat Rapp, Ramon Ortiz, Scott Schoeneweis and Ismael Valdes will probably fill out the rotation. Scioscia hasn’t ruled out Tim Belcher, but the veteran right-hander must come on strong to have a shot at making the team.

Troy Percival, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Al Levine, Mike Holtz and Ben Weber appear to have nailed down five of the six bullpen spots, with Mike Fyhrie, Lou Pote and Randy Espina competing for the last available job.

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Valdes was erratic Tuesday, giving up three runs on five hits but striking out four in four innings. . . . Utility infielder David Eckstein continued to bolster his chances of making the team and possibly starting at second base with three hits. . . .

According to an Internet report, the Angels and New York Mets have discussed a trade that would send outfielder Garret Anderson to New York for pitcher Glendon Rusch. . . . Utility player Shawn Wooten’s chances of making the team were dashed when he was diagnosed with a knee injury that will sideline him for at least two weeks. . . .

Salmon sat out his third consecutive game because of a slight abdominal strain and is day to day. Canseco, sidelined because of a stiff lower back, is expected to return today.