Angels Decide Pitching Is Priority

The two-day organizational summit convened here by General Manager Bill Stoneman continues today, but the Angels already have made one decision and appear surprisingly uncertain on another.

Stoneman confirmed Tuesday the Angels plan to pursue a top starting pitcher this winter, which probably means Scot Shields returns to the bullpen next season. The Angels also are wavering on whether rookie Alfredo Amezaga should displace David Eckstein at shortstop if they do not sign a free-agent star at the position, either Miguel Tejada or Japanese league star Kazuo Matsui.

Eckstein said he would do whatever the Angels ask. But, amid all the talk of Tejada and Matsui, Eckstein said he would like to return to shortstop and would like Adam Kennedy to return to second base.

“We’ve already proven what we can do. We can win a championship,” Eckstein said. “That would be a nice scenario next year.”

Two hours before the Oakland Athletics roughed up Chris Bootcheck in his major league debut and rolled to an 8-1 victory over the Angels, Stoneman identified starting pitching as a target for some of the millions that owner Arte Moreno pledges are available to spend.

“That will be a priority,” Stoneman said. “We’re going to be talking to some starting pitchers.”

Stoneman said he would like to add a starter “who can get deep into games and stay healthy and productive over a full season.”

That description could fit several pending free agents, including Bartolo Colon of the Chicago White Sox, Kevin Millwood of the Philadelphia Phillies, Sidney Ponson of the San Francisco Giants and Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves, as well as two starters who could be available in trade, Javier Vazquez and Livan Hernandez of the Montreal Expos.

All have thrown at least 198 innings this season, and all but Maddux have at least four complete games. As a team, the Angels have four complete games.

Stoneman declined to second-guess his stand-pat strategy last winter. In fact, even with the injury siege that has decimated the offense, he argued that the Angels would be contending right now if not for their inconsistent starters.

The Angels ranked fourth in the league in runs scored last season. They rank 10th this season, although they have outscored the A’s, the leaders of the American League West.

“If we’d have gotten the same year out of our starting rotation this year we did last year, we’d be right there,” Stoneman said.

By adding a starter to the quartet of Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz, John Lackey and Aaron Sele, the Angels would have a solid reserve corps in Bootcheck, Shields and Kevin Gregg. Bootcheck gave up eight runs in 3 1/3 innings Tuesday, including home runs to Tejada, Ramon Hernandez and Jermaine Dye within a span of five batters.

“I was excited to go out there and anxious to make an impression,” Bootcheck said. “It’s disappointing to start off the way I did. Hopefully, I’ll get another opportunity.”

Gregg is expected to start Sunday, but Manager Mike Scioscia said he would try to give Bootcheck another start too.

Eckstein is the ultimate team-first player, but he is a proud man, and the Angels did win a title with him at shortstop.

Amezaga hit .347 at triple-A Salt Lake, but his .159 average since joining the Angels has prompted the team to reconsider whether his stellar defense is worth displacing Eckstein or Kennedy.

Eckstein would prefer not to be a reserve infielder, although he has no say if the Angels are willing to pay him close to $2 million through salary arbitration.

Although second base is his natural position, he does not embrace the possibility of replacing Kennedy there.