Club Would Like to Get an Anderson Deal Done

The agent for center fielder Garret Anderson was en route to the Phoenix area Monday and is expected to meet with General Manager Bill Stoneman today or Wednesday to begin negotiations on a contract extension for the 31-year-old All-Star.

Chris Arnold, who represents Anderson, is expected to seek a deal similar in average annual value to the five-year, $70-million contract the Angels awarded free-agent right fielder Vladimir Guerrero in January. Anderson will make $6.2 million in 2004, the final season of a four-year, $20-million contract.

Angel owner Arte Moreno has said securing Anderson to a long-term deal “is our top priority,” and by clearing Kevin Appier’s $12-million salary and with the expected departure of Aaron Sele and his $8.5-million salary after this season, the Angels seem positioned to pay Anderson market value.

The length of the contract could be a sticking point, though. Guerrero received five years at $14 million a year, but at 28, he is three years younger than Anderson, who will turn 32 on June 30. If the Angels went five years with Anderson, he would be 37 by the end of the contract. Although Anderson has shown no signs of slowing -- he has hit .299 and averaged 30 home runs and 120 runs batted in over the last four seasons -- and has never been on the disabled list in nine big league seasons, the Angels might be hesitant to extend him for five years.

Anderson said he would not discuss his contract situation this spring, and Arnold did not return calls Sunday and Monday, but Arnold said this winter that if a deal weren’t struck by the end of spring training, there would be no further negotiations during the season.

“We’ll do our best to get it done,” Moreno said. “I would love for Garret to be an Angel. It’s really hard to build a tradition when you’re switching players all the time.”

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Another day, another pre-workout team meeting filled with raucous laughter. Since Mike Scioscia began managing the Angels in 2000, part of his daily spring routine has been to gather players in the Tempe Diablo Stadium clubhouse for morning meetings, which often include joke-telling, players “ragging” teammates, a little rookie hazing or performances such as Monday’s, when batting instructor Mickey Hatcher and roving catching instructor Bobby Ramos did a dance routine.

Scioscia believes the frivolity helps build team chemistry and foster a relaxed atmosphere, and the results appear to be tangible.

“I’ve only been here four days, and I already feel comfortable, like I’ve been here a lot longer,” said pitcher Kelvim Escobar, who left the Toronto Blue Jays to sign a three-year, $18.7-million contract with the Angels in November. “I don’t think many other teams do this. It’s fun, and it makes everyone relaxed and happy.”

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The Angels on Monday agreed to terms on a 2004 contract for pitcher Chris Bootcheck, who was 0-1 with a 9.58 earned-run average in 10 1/3 big league innings last season. Bootcheck will make the minimum $300,000 if he is on the major league roster. Outfielder Robb Quinlan also agreed to terms on a 2004 deal.... A heavy rain forced the Angels to conduct workouts in two indoor batting cages Monday.