Finley Has Had Several Offers to Consider

Free-agent pitcher Chuck Finley, who recently rejected an offer to rejoin the Angels as a reliever, said Wednesday he worked out for the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and has received offers from several clubs.

The Angel mainstay from 1986-99 said he would like to return to his former club, “but I’ve always been a starter and I want to remain a starter.

“My whole thing has always been building up for four days and letting it go on the fifth. They said they didn’t have a spot in their rotation, and I understand that.”

Finley, who said he feels as if he’s throwing as well as any time over the last three years, said he has had discussions with five or six teams.

Of those that have extended offers, the 40-year-old said, either the location or the financial terms -- or both -- haven’t been to his liking.

Finley said he has spoken with the Dodgers, who told him they didn’t need another starter, but that was before Darren Dreifort was lost for the season last week with knee problems.

Though he hopes to sign with a team over the next two weeks, Finley said he has no regrets if he doesn’t and his 17-year career ends without a World Series title.

“If last year was my last year, I can live with that,” said Finley, who went 11-15 with a 4.15 earned-run average for St. Louis and Cleveland. “I enjoyed St. Louis and had a lot of fun in the playoffs. I maxed it out for 17 years and can honestly say I won’t look back wishing I had done this or that.

“I was happy for the Angels last year and happy for the city. It showed that there’s more to Anaheim than orange trees and Disneyland.”

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Though David Eckstein’s bruised left hand had healed sufficiently for him to return to the starting lineup Wednesday, the shortstop remained sidelined by a stomach virus that he had contracted a day earlier.

Eckstein was available off the bench but didn’t want to exacerbate his condition or risk another injury by starting.

Eckstein is expected to return to the lineup for the first time since June 5 on Friday when the Angels open a three-game series against the New York Mets at Edison Field.