Hudler’s Status to Be Settled After Season

Rex Hudler may have solved his legal dilemma, but the television analyst’s future with the Angels remained in doubt Monday after owner Arte Moreno declined to lift Hudler’s suspension and said a decision on whether to retain the broadcaster would not be made until after the season.

Hudler, who has agreed to complete community service and receive counseling to settle the marijuana charges he faced in the wake of his Aug. 31 arrest at Kansas City International Airport, will not be allowed to return to his broadcasting duties this season.

“I want to apologize to all my fans for the mistake I made,” Hudler said in a statement released by his Kansas City attorney, Jim Wyrsch. “I sincerely regret it. I thank the Angels for their support. I’m looking forward to continuing my career with the Angels.”

For his community service, Hudler and his wife plan to raise money for the fight against Down syndrome, Wyrsch said. Hudler and his wife, Jennifer, have a child with the condition and have established the “Team Up For Down Syndrome” foundation.

Hudler’s contract with the Angels runs through 2005.

*

Bengie Molina said upon his return to the Edison Field clubhouse that he believed he had proved his durability by catching 119 of 140 games before suffering a season-ending wrist injury Sept. 3 during a play at the plate.

“At least they know now that I could finish a season, that I could play a whole year strong,” said Molina, limited by hamstring injuries to 122 games last season and 96 games in 2001. “It wasn’t anything I wasn’t getting ready for, it was just something that happened. I didn’t get hurt. Somebody got me hurt.”

Molina, who had a metal plate and five screws inserted to stabilize his left wrist, had stitches removed Monday. His arm is scheduled to remain in a cast for about a month, and he can begin rehabilitation immediately after. Molina said he has the option to eventually remove the plate and screws but would probably leave them in to avoid additional surgery.

*

Darin Erstad ran around the bases for the first time since returning to the disabled list in early August and said he has not ruled out returning this season even though only 11 games remain. Erstad, limited to 67 games by chronic tendinitis in his right hamstring, said he would like to play again to reassure himself that he will be ready for 2004.

“You want to get in a game situation and go into the off-season with the confidence that it’s OK,” he said. “You don’t want to have any doubt in your mind going into spring, ‘OK, is this thing going to hold up or not?’ ”

Staff Writer Larry Stewart contributed to this report.