Durable Escobar on Stoneman’s Free-Agent List

As the Angels prepare to make their pitch to free-agent starters, they have included Toronto right-hander Kelvim Escobar on their target list.

Escobar fits the criteria established by Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman, who wants to sign a starter with a track record of pitching deep into games and avoiding injury. Escobar, who started the season as the Blue Jays’ closer before joining the rotation, has pitched at least six innings in 17 of 24 starts since June 1. He has not been on the disabled list in the last five years.

He is 12-9 with a 4.36 earned-run average this season, 11-8 with a 3.98 ERA as a starter. He has pitched 13 1/3 innings against the Angels this season, giving up no runs and six hits.

Escobar, 27, is seeking a three-year contract and could be an affordable alternative to the trio of Bartolo Colon -- the Angels’ top choice -- Kevin Millwood and Sidney Ponson.

“It’s not about the money,” Escobar said earlier this year. “It’s about the three years. My whole career I’ve gone year by year. It’s hard to get to this point, so I have to take advantage.”

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When pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa signed with the Angels in 1997, he and Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo were the only Japanese-born players who had jumped from Japan’s top league to the major leagues. Several top players have followed, including Seattle outfielder and 2001 American League most valuable player Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki, a two-time All-Star, and Yankee outfielder Hideki Matsui, a strong candidate to be this season’s AL rookie of the year.

The Angels are among several clubs expected to pursue star Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui, who is eligible for free agency this fall.

Hasegawa, now with Seattle, says Japanese baseball is still strong. While players from the Dominican Republic or Venezuela must leave their homeland to make a good living at baseball, he said, Japanese players can earn a fine salary at home.

“They make enough money over there,” Hasegawa said. “I don’t think everybody wants to come here. With the different culture and the different language, it’s pretty tough. They’ve still got good baseball there.”

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Rookie Kevin Gregg has started three times, each one a quality start -- six innings or more, three earned runs or fewer. Aaron Sele, who pitches tonight, has four quality starts among his 23 this season.