Anderson Could Return This Week

Garret Anderson will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga tonight, and the tentative plan calls for the center fielder to return to the Angels -- probably in a designated hitter role to start -- by this weekend’s series against the Chicago Cubs.

The Angels say Anderson, out since April 22 because of an arthritic condition in his upper back, will need 15 to 20 at-bats to regain his stroke, and the preference is to ease him back into the major leagues as a DH before starting him in the outfield.

But after playing host to the Cubs this weekend, the Angels will play nine of their next 13 games in National League parks -- where there is no DH -- so they would like Anderson to be ready to play the field for the series at Pittsburgh from June 15 to 17.

“The first priority is to get him swinging the bat like he can; then he can DH here,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We’re not going to hold up his reentry to the lineup if he’s swinging well and not ready to play center field. We need him ... in the middle of our lineup.”

A week ago, the Angels didn’t have a timetable for Anderson’s return, though the All-Star break seemed a reasonable goal. But Anderson has responded so favorably to anti-inflammatory medication and looked so good in workouts last week, he was put on a fast track to Anaheim.

“This came about in the last couple of days, by the way he’s been running, swinging the bat and gaining strength, from his hands to his trunk to his legs,” Scioscia said. “He’s been down for a long time, but he’s done great in every strength test he’s had.”

Tim Salmon, out since April 30 because of an inflamed left knee, is expected to complete his rehab assignment for Rancho Cucamonga at Lake Elsinore tonight and be activated Tuesday.

When Salmon and Anderson return, Scioscia will have the difficult task of finding regular work for Salmon and outfielders Raul Mondesi and Jeff DaVanon, who is batting .352.

“There are going to be a lot of questions as we move forward with health and stamina,” Scioscia said. “We’ll make decisions as they come up -- there’s no sense doing that now.

“It’s a good position for the organization. So many teams are looking for bats; we’ll be looking for at-bats. That depth will be important to us.... Hopefully we can keep guys fresh and productive.”

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A second MRI test revealed that the inflammation in Salmon’s left knee is in the same area of his post-2002 surgery, news that actually brought a measure of relief to the Angel veteran because he played with a similar condition in the second half of 2002 and for much of 2003.

“My only option is to learn to live with it and play with it,” said Salmon, who will take anti-inflammatory and pain medication and will need occasional cortisone shots. “We’ve basically got bone on bone, and when it gets inflamed, we’ve got to bring that down and mask the pain. It flares up ... but it’s not going to get worse.”

Salmon, 35, could correct the defect with a cartilage transplant, but that procedure requires a 10-month healing process, and with only one year left on a four-year, $40-million contract, Salmon didn’t see the point.

“I’m getting older, and this career is not going to last forever,” Salmon said. “Let’s just have fun and play with it.”

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With Jarrod Washburn experiencing tightness in his upper left leg, Scioscia flopped his rotation for the Milwaukee series, moving Kelvim Escobar to Tuesday night and pushing Washburn, originally scheduled to start Tuesday, to Wednesday.... It appears neither shortstop David Eckstein (strained right hamstring) nor catcher Bengie Molina (strained left calf) will be put on the DL this week. Scioscia said both could be ready to return during the Brewer series