A Good Start for Stoneman

Considering that new owner Arte Moreno has already extended the contract of Bill Stoneman through 2007, is it a stretch to suggest the Angel general manager is under the gun this winter?

Isn’t Dan Evans, his colleague up the freeway, supposed to be the general manager in jeopardy as the Dodgers remain in ownership limbo?

Well, it would be a stretch indeed to suggest Stoneman’s job is at similar risk, but he does have some proving to do.

After all, he is one of baseball’s few general managers with money to spend in a tight economy, and he has multiple positions to fill for the first time in a four-year tenure.

Having inherited the core of a team that would win the 2002 World Series, he will be watched closely now as he makes the moves necessary to return the Angels to that lofty status.

On Monday, a day on which developments elsewhere may have dealt a setback to Evans in his pursuit of either Richie Sexson or Derrek Lee to fill his void at first base, Stoneman stamped the first of those necessary off-season moves as official.

Confirming widespread reports, the Angels unveiled in an Edison Field news conference the signing of former Toronto Blue Jay right-hander Kelvim Escobar to a three-year, $18.75-million contract as a free agent.

With diamond studs in both ears and enough gold and silver around his neck and wrists to fill a display case at the Fullerton jewelry mart, Escobar also wore a smile to match that of the generally stoic Stoneman.

A front-line starter was the Angels’ top priority, and they made Escobar the first major signing of the baseball winter, having failed in an attempt to trade for him late in the 2003 season.

Stoneman noted the “lightening” in Escobar’s arm and said, “This was key. Now we have the flexibility to move in a lot of directions.”

Flexibility, in this case, might translate to the signing of an outfielder of the stature of Vladimir Guerrero or Shannon Stewart, and/or a shortstop in the Miguel Tejada or Kazuo Matsui mold.

Often employed in a closer or relief role by the Blue Jays, Escobar, 27, isn’t the proven starter yet that free agents Andy Pettitte or Bartolo Colon are, but he cost half the price.

“He hasn’t proven he’s a No. 1 yet,” a veteran American League scout said, “but I’m comfortable saying he’s a No. 3 in a good rotation and maybe better. I really like his arm and durability.

“If he gives them 15 or 16 wins, the Angels made a real good call.”

Evans was also making calls Monday out of his Dodger Stadium office, trying to maintain his connections to Sexson, the Milwaukee Brewer first baseman, and Lee, the Florida Marlin first baseman.

The possibility that the Arizona Diamondbacks are about to trade Curt Schilling to the Boston Red Sox -- a deal is in place pending Boston’s willingness to give Schilling a contract extension in return for waiving his no-trade clause -- could represent a blow to Evans’ pursuit of either Sexson or Lee because it would free enough payroll for the Diamondbacks to acquire one or the other.

“I’m only concerned about what I can control, not what somebody else is doing,” Evans insisted. “I’ve got enough to worry about with our own situation.”

He was referring to his lineup holes, not his job status.

Of course, it’s hard to separate the two when it’s uncertain just how much trade and signing authority Evans has while Frank McCourt’s ownership bid dawdles on.

Moreno, meantime, has given Stoneman permission to take the payroll “north of $90 million,” and Escobar’s signing represented a compass in that direction.

Stoneman and his staff have done a big job uncovering obscure free-agent and waiver nuggets during his relatively brief tenure, but their touch with starting pitchers hasn’t been as successful.

* Kent Bottenfield was a bust after his acquisition in the Jim Edmonds trade.

* Kevin Appier -- the price for the New York Mets’ accepting Mo Vaughn -- gave the Angels 188 1/3 innings in their World Series year before being released last season while still owed $15.67 million.

* And Aaron Sele, signed to a three-year, $24-million contract as a free agent, had shoulder surgery last winter, posted an 11-20 record in the first two years of the contract and could be squeezed out amid the Escobar-enhanced rotation depth even though he is owed $8.5 million next year.

Unlike Bottenfield, Appier and Sele, however, Escobar is a younger pitcher on the come who has never been on a major league disabled list, although he had elbow surgery at the triple-A level in 1997.

The Angels put him through a physical and more, obviously satisfied with their research into an $8-million sexual assault lawsuit filed against him in Toronto.

“We’re fully aware of the situation and will let due process take its course,” Stoneman said. “Hopefully, it won’t impact his work schedule during the season. We don’t know that, but we’re hoping that’s the case.”

Amid the Kobe Bryant environment, it’s inconceivable the Angels would sign a character risk without assurances that the lawsuit isn’t a measure of his behavior and won’t impede his availability.

“He has the potential to be a lead horse,” Manager Mike Scioscia said of Escobar, “and he’s on a mission to get there, but I don’t think it would be fair to put that kind of expectation on him right now.”

For Stoneman, however, a promising first step along the proving ground.