Stewart Is High on List

The Angels are expected to include outfielder Shannon Stewart high on their free-agent shopping list, a player who could improve their offense at a price that would not preclude them from other improvements.

Stewart, 29, split last season between the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins, hitting .307 with a .364 on-base percentage. He would play left field -- with Garret Anderson in center or right -- and probably would lead off. He stole at least 20 bases from 1998-2001 -- including 51 in ’98 -- but has expressed concern about continuing his career on artificial turf.

Stewart earned $6.2 million this year. While the Angels love free-agent right fielder Vladimir Guerrero and figure to talk to him as well, they wonder whether they might sign Stewart at perhaps half the price so they still could pursue shortstops Miguel Tejada and Kazuo Matsui and starters Bartolo Colon and Andy Pettitte.

Colon reportedly rejected a three-year, $36-million offer from the Chicago White Sox, and Pettitte figures to be offered that much or more to remain with the New York Yankees.

“I don’t think we’re going to end up signing the highest-priced shortstop, outfielder and starting pitcher,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said. “We’ll be talking to a number of them. We do have money to spend, but we don’t have a limitless supply.”

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As of Monday afternoon, Stoneman said the Boston Red Sox had not asked permission to discuss their managerial vacancy with pitching coach Bud Black. The Red Sox fired Manager Grady Little on Monday, and Black is on their list of potential replacements.

Black signed a one-year deal last week to remain the pitching coach but said Monday the Boston job could be intriguing.

“If my name pops up, it would be a great opportunity and I’d be willing to listen,” he said. “But I like where I am, and I like the situation.”