Angels Have Void Without Glaus

Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad and Tim Salmon are back from lengthy stays on the disabled list, meaning “The A Team” is no longer trying to remain competitive in the American League West with its B Team.

Yet, the continued absence of Troy Glaus looms large as an Angel team that was in first place with one of baseball’s best records the day the third baseman was sidelined by a right shoulder injury creeps dangerously close to mediocrity.

The Angels are 20-28 since Glaus was last in the lineup, May 11 against the New York Yankees, and have fallen into third place, 4 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers in the AL West. A team that plunked down $146 million on big-name free agents last off-season to complement what Manager Mike Scioscia refers to as a “championship core” is only three games over .500.

Starting pitching has been a big problem, but the void at third and in the Angel batting order is another, and Glaus might not be back this season.

“Any time you take a guy of Troy’s talent out of a lineup, it will have some residual effects,” Scioscia said. “You’re never going to minimize the loss of a talent like Troy.”

That the Angels (42-39) have plodded along without Glaus, who was leading the American League with 11 home runs and had 28 runs batted in in only 29 games, could compel them to re-sign Glaus once his four-year, $23-million contract expires at the end of this season.

Chone Figgins, who probably will finish the season as the Angels’ third baseman after displaying adequate defense and dazzling speed in Glaus’ absence, is not considered a long-term fit at the position.

Among other options, General Manager Bill Stoneman could re-sign Glaus, 27, to a long-term deal at a rate of $10 million to $13 million a season, or he could opt for power-hitting prospect Dallas McPherson, the low-cost alternative.

McPherson was recently promoted to triple-A Salt Lake and hit five homers in his first 10 games. The 23-year-old hit .321 in 68 games this season at double-A Arkansas and led the Texas League with 20 homers and 69 RBIs, but concerns about McPherson’s defense could preclude him from making the jump to Anaheim this season.

“He’s improving defensively, I just don’t think it’s major league grade yet at this point,” said Tony Reagins, the Angels’ director of player development. “He’s going to have to earn his way to the big leagues; 10 games at the triple-A level doesn’t dictate that we would move him to the major leagues.”

The dilemma with Glaus is not productivity but durability. Having suffered serious shoulder injuries in each of the last two seasons, it’s becoming apparent that the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder may not have the body type that can withstand the rigors of third base.

Glaus was already working out at first base before he chose to have surgery, and his future could be there or at designated hitter. He is rehabilitating his shoulder in Arizona and could not be reached for comment.

“We’re going to wait and see what kind of arm strength he comes back with, how his arm holds up,” Scioscia said. “If his shoulder holds up, there’s no reason why he can’t be one of the top third baseman again in baseball.”

Mike Nicotera, Glaus’ agent, said the third baseman would be willing to play first base or designated hitter if he recovers in time to play this season. Beyond 2004, though, Glaus is firmly committed to third.

Glaus’ shoulder had fully recovered in spring training after the season-ending injury he suffered last July at Tampa Bay while diving on artificial turf. But he reinjured his right shoulder and hurt his left shoulder April 30 at Minnesota on a similar artificial surface while diving for a ground ball.

Glaus remained in the lineup as the designated hitter for 10 games, hitting four homers and driving in eight runs before spraining the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in a muddy Yankee Stadium batter’s box. An MRI test revealed a condition similar to his previous shoulder injury -- a partial tear of his right rotator cuff and a frayed labrum -- that ended his 2003 season after 91 games.

Even if Glaus agrees to move to first base or designated hitter, there may not be an opening at either position.

First base is occupied by Erstad, who is under contract through 2006 and couldn’t simply move back to the outfield because left fielder Jose Guillen is signed through 2005, with an option for 2006. Salmon, the designated hitter, has one year remaining on his contract, for $10 million.

If McPherson is ready to open the season in Anaheim next season, the Angels could make room for Glaus by releasing Salmon, who is hitting .224 with two homers and 18 RBIs in a part-time role, though that would mean saying goodbye to one of the most popular players in franchise history. The Angels also could try to persuade Salmon, who has veto power over any trade, to agree to a move to another team that would let him become its everyday designated hitter.

Stoneman declined to comment on Glaus’ future or potential personnel moves.

“Right now he’s recovering from the injury,” Stoneman said of Glaus. “Let’s determine those things when we get a chance to really determine them.”

Said Nicotera: “Troy’s first choice always was to stay [with the Angels]. He’s very aware of the fact that he does not control whether they want him back and in what capacity. Does he have a desire to be there? Yes.”

Although admitting, “It’s hard not to miss a bat like Troy’s and the power that he brings,” Stoneman also lauded Figgins’ play as a fill-in, saying, “We’ve got a guy at third base who gives you a much different dimension but a needed dimension -- getting on base and the speed.”

Figgins leads the AL with 11 triples and is tied for third with 20 stolen bases. Still, the Angels would like to find room for Glaus -- especially later this season.

“If you put him in the middle of the lineup and have Vlad [Guerrero], Anderson, Guillen and Glaus, those could be four huge bats,” shortstop David Eckstein said. “It just adds something else to your lineup in which you don’t need to create as much. Anybody in the major leagues would want him on their club.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Power Broker

Troy Glaus was leading the American League in home runs when he was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Glaus is in the last season of a four-year, $23-million contract. His statistics before he was put on the disabled list:

2004 STATISTICS

*--* G HR RBI R AVG 29 11 28 29 296

*--*