Front Office Has Found Some Gems

With outfielder Tim Salmon and pitcher Aaron Sele on the disabled list, Angel fans might wish their team had been the one to trade for slugger Cliff Floyd, as the Red Sox did, or pitcher Jeff Weaver, as the Yankees did. Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman does not have the budget that would allow such a trade, and even if he did he would be reluctant to surrender the top prospects necessary to do so.

But, with depth suddenly a critical issue for the Angels, the Stoneman regime has proven adept at identifying useful players and acquiring them at virtually no cost, in deals that attract little notice. The shining example, of course, is shortstop David Eckstein, claimed off waivers from Boston on the recommendation of several scouts.

But outfielder Alex Ochoa, indispensable with the injury to Salmon, came from Milwaukee in a July trade for backup catcher Jorge Fabregas. Mickey Callaway, who will replace Sele in the starting rotation, came from Tampa Bay in a winter trade for minor league shortstop Wilmy Caceres. Infielder Chone Figgins, promoted to fill Salmon’s roster spot, came from Colorado last year, in a minor league trade for journeyman outfielder Kimera Bartee.

Stoneman credited his scouts and coaches for flourishing in an atmosphere where they can recommend the pursuit of any player, no matter how few tools he might possess or how low he might have been drafted. Stoneman cited the example of bullpen mainstay Ben Weber, who had played in an independent league and in Taiwan before the Angels claimed him off waivers from San Francisco, on the recommendation of coach Ron Roenicke.

“It’s nice to have guys who have that much interest, passion and good judgment about people,” Stoneman said. “We’re not going to rule out a guy because he’s not a household name or not making $2 million. Talent is what we’re looking for, not reputation.”

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Even if Sele can strengthen the partially torn rotator cuff in his shoulder enough to return within three weeks, the Angels are considering using their top starters on three days’ rest during the last one or two weeks of the season. The Angels play 10 of their last 13 games against Seattle and Oakland, the two teams ahead of them in the American League West.... Salmon received a third opinion on his slow-to-heal left hand; an orthopedic specialist affiliated with the Red Sox confirmed the diagnosis of a deep bruise and administered a cortisone injection to combat inflammation.... Scott Schoeneweis, the Angel player representative, said the players would not delay their strike date past next Friday, no matter how close to an agreement the two sides might be by then. “That’s the only thing I know 100%--if there isn’t a deal done, there will be a strike,” he said.

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TODAY

ANGELS’

KEVIN APPIER

(11-9, 3.99 ERA)

vs.

RED SOX’S

TIM WAKEFIELD

(7-4, 3.28 ERA)

Fenway Park, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 11.

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

Update--A groin and hip strain forced Appier out of his last start after six innings, but he says he is fine. Wakefield pitched five shutout innings against the Angels last month in Anaheim.