Rookies Take Stock of Future

Shortstop David Eckstein and reliever Ben Weber have played well enough to secure their spots on the Angel roster next season--if there is a next season, that is.

At a time when the rookies should be reveling in their success, each wonders and worries whether the absence of a labor agreement beyond this year could mean the absence of a season next year.

In his spring training chat with the Angels, union chief Donald Fehr warned players to save money this year, just in case, advice more easily taken by veteran millionaires than by Weber, 31, whose $203,500 salary this year hardly erases the mortgage, loans and credit-card bills incurred during a minor league career that started in 1991.

“I’m still paying off debts I accumulated over the last 10 years,” Weber said.

Eckstein, 26, who still lives with his parents during the off-season, said he has saved almost all of his $200,000 salary.

“I don’t spend a dime,” he said.

He and Weber are cautiously optimistic a new labor agreement can be reached before next season, but Eckstein recalled how stunned he was during the 1994-95 strike.

“I thought there was no way they would cancel the World Series,” he said. “That was eye-opening. Hopefully, everything goes well this year.”

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Chris Bootcheck, a first-round draft choice last year, gave up five hits over seven innings Friday as the Angels’ double-A Arkansas affiliate beat Wichita, 5-0.

The victory clinched a berth in the Texas League championship series, which commences tonight.