Angels Consider Platoon

With little interest in the newest crop of free agents, the Angels have discussed the possibility of a platoon at first base next season, General Manager Bill Stoneman said Monday.

After reviewing the list of 58 players set free last weekend when their teams did not offer 2004 contracts, Stoneman said he saw “more bench guys” than potential every-day players. The Angels have not ruled out adding an outfielder, either by free agency or in trade, and moving Darin Erstad to first base.

However, a first-base platoon would help fortify a bench depleted by the free-agent losses of Brad Fullmer, Shawn Wooten and Eric Owens. The Angels have considered free-agent first basemen Rafael Palmeiro, Travis Lee and Robert Fick. All three bat left-handed and Fick in particular might affordably fit into a platoon.

Free agent Eric Karros would be willing to serve as the right-handed bat in an Angel first-base platoon, agent Jeff Moorad said Monday. So far, he said, the Angels have expressed no interest in Karros.

The Angels had one vacancy left in their lineup last winter, at designated hitter, when they offered a one-year, $1-million contract to Fick, Brad Fullmer and David Justice. They signed Fullmer.

Stoneman would not say whether the Angels would employ a similar strategy this winter but said any future signings would be low-cost ones. The Angels appear content to wait and see whether Palmeiro’s asking price drops into their range.

-- Bill Shaikin