Erstad Won’t Go to Mets

Darin Erstad, preparing to return to center field for the Angels next season, has added the New York Mets to the list of teams to which he cannot be traded.

The Mets, with the need for a center fielder and the ability to afford Erstad’s contract, join the Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Montreal Expos on his no-trade list.

Erstad confirmed his decision but declined to discuss it. He did say that Manager Mike Scioscia has told him to conduct winter workouts under the assumption he will play center field next spring.

During a summer in which a severe hamstring injury limited Erstad to 67 games, the Angels debated whether a move to first base might better preserve the health of their Gold Glove center fielder. For now, the answer is no, but General Manager Bill Stoneman said the Angels reserve the right to move Erstad should they acquire an outfielder or two.

“I’m preparing to play center field,” Erstad said. “I’ll adjust from there.”

Erstad opted against surgery to repair the partially torn tendon within his right hamstring. After rest and continued therapy, he said, he no longer wakes up sore or feels a pinch while descending a flight of stairs.

“I’m 100% confident I’ll be fine,” he said. “I’m confident it will hold up, with as much work as I’ve put in with the physical therapists.”

Still, he has yet to test the hamstring at full speed, so the possibility remains that the tendon could fully rupture.

“If it does, I won’t be second-guessing myself about not having the procedure done,” he said.

Converted infielder Chone Figgins replaced the injured Erstad last season and could do so again if necessary, but his decision to skip winter ball could lead the Angels to sign another center fielder should they move Erstad to first base.

“We liked what we saw of Figgins, but we just felt he needed to see some more balls off the bat in live-game situations,” Stoneman said. “Our inability to see Figgins get that extra experience may impact his ability to get a center field job here.”

Erstad, entering the second season of a four-year, $32-million contract, can designate four teams annually to which he cannot be traded. The Mets, coming off successive last-place finishes, replace the Dodgers, whom Erstad said he included on his initial no-trade list only to tweak a boyhood friend who rooted for the Dodgers.

On another front, the agent for Andy Pettitte confirmed that the Angels have contacted him to discuss their interest in his client. The Yankees have identified retaining Pettitte as their top priority, and the Boston Red Sox and his hometown Houston Astros also are interested.

“Andy has a number of options and hasn’t ruled out any of them,” agent Randy Hendricks said via e-mail.

The Angels are prepared to move quickly to sign one of three top free-agent starters -- Pettitte, Bartolo Colon or Kelvim Escobar.

The Angels also added four prospects to their 40-man roster, preventing another team from selecting them in next month’s Rule 5 draft. Third baseman Dallas McPherson, who could replace Troy Glaus if Glaus leaves as a free agent after the 2004 season, was promoted to the 40-man roster, along with left-handers Tim Bittner and Jake Woods and right-hander Steve Andrade.

The top prospects aside from McPherson -- first baseman Casey Kotchman, catcher Jeff Mathis and right-hander Ervin Santana -- were not added because they are not subject to the Rule 5 draft.